B"H
Tuesday, Iyar 16, 5779 / May 21, 2019 (31st day of the Omer)
Sunday was the 14th day of Iyar, which in the Hebrew calendar is called Pesach Sheini. The literal translation of Pesach Sheini is, “The Second Pesach.”
The Torah, in Numbers chapter 9, tells us that one year after the Exodus, while still in the desert, G-d commanded the Jewish people to celebrate the holiday of Pesach - the holiday of their freedom, by offering the Korban Pesach (Pascal sacrifice). However, there were people who were spiritually impure due to coming in contact with a dead body and had to wait seven days until they become spiritually clean and as a result couldn’t bring the sacrifice at that time.
They came to Moshe and said, "Why should we be lacking the mitzvah of the Passover sacrifice?" The Torah tells us that Moshe brought their case before G-d.
G-d told Moshe, "Speak to the children of Israel saying, 'If a man of you or in future generations shall be unclean… or will be on a distant journey, they shall make the Pesach offering on the fourteenth day of the second month, toward evening; they shall eat it with matzah and maror (bitter herbs)."
Thus, the fourteenth of Iyar, became the “Second Pesach.” In the days of the Temple, anyone who was impure or far from the Temple at the time of the Pesach holiday and couldn’t bring their Passover sacrifice, was given a second chance to perform the mitzvah, one month later on the 14th of Iyar.
Today there are no practical applications for Pesach Sheini, except that we do not say the prayer of supplication and make it a point to eat some matzah on this day, to remember the days of the Temple. However, the lesson and significance of this special day is everlasting.
Pesach Sheini teaches us that in spiritual matters and mitzvot we should never say, “we missed our chance and it’s too late.” Pesach Sheini is about having another chance! G-d always gives us another chance and another chance. It’s a great lesson in life, but it’s up to us to take advantage of it.
Another lesson is that G-d waited for the Jewish people to come forward and request this second chance. At times, it’s up to us to make that move to show G-d that we truly want that other chance.
The story of Rabbi Akiva is the best example of this. The Talmud tells us that until the age of 40 Rabbi Akiva was an ignorant shepherd. Only at the age of 40, with the encouragement of his wife, did he get his second chance to study Torah. He then studied diligently and forty years later, Rabbi Akiva became the greatest Talmudic sage of his time, leading a Yeshiva with thousands of students! Pesach Sheini teaches us this very encouraging and wonderful lesson!
Being out of town yesterday, I didn’t get a chance topublish the Torah Fax, but taking the lesson from Pesach Sheini, I’m taking advantage of my second chance and publishing it today..
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY