B"H
Friday, Iyar 14, 5780 / May 8, 2020 (29th day of the Omer)
Today, the 14th day of the month of Iyar, is called "Pesach Sheini" - "The Second Pesach (Passover)."
Q. What is the origin and significance of Pesach Sheini?
A. The Torah (Numbers chapter 9) tells us how this day came about. One year after the Exodus, G-d commanded Moshe to tell the people to celebrate the holiday of Pesach - the holiday of their freedom, by offering the Korban Pesach (Pascal sacrifice), as they did the previous year in Egypt. However, there were people who were spiritually impure as a result of coming in contact with the body of Joseph. One who comes in contact with a dead body cannot partake in the sacrifice.
The men complained to Moshe, "Why should we be lacking the mitzvah of sacrificing the Passover sacrifice?"
Moshe brought their case before G-d. G-d told Moshe, "Speak to the children of Israel saying, 'If a man of you or of your future generations shall be unclean as a result of [contact with] a dead body or will be on a distant journey, they shall still make the Pesach offering to the L-rd. They shall make it on the fourteenth day of the second month, toward evening; they shall eat it with matzah and maror (bitter herbs)."
Iyar is the second month. Thus, in the days of the Temple, anyone who was impure or far from the Temple at the time of Passover, and couldn’t partake in the Pesach sacrifice, they were given a second chance to perform the mitzvah one month later on the 14th of Iyar.
Q. Why were they carrying Joseph’s body with them in the desert?
A. Joseph, before his death, made his family promise that, at the time of the Exodus, they will take his body out of Egypt and bury him in Israel. Joseph’s body travelled with them throughout the 40 years in the desert and was later buried in Israel in the city of Shchem.
Q. What is the lesson and significance of this day for us when we don’t have the Temple and there are no sacrifices?
A. Although we currently don’t have the Holy Temple, yet, the concept and lesson of "Pesach Sheini," is still valid and an important lesson in our everyday life. "Pesach Sheini" is a reminder that we are always given “another chance." It tells us that we should never give up. It teaches us that, as long as we live, G-d gives us the opportunity and ability to accomplish that which we may have missed earlier in life, especially in the study of Torah, doing mitzvot and good deeds. It’s never too late!
The story of Rabbi Akiva is a good example of this. The Talmud tells us that until the age of 40 Rabbi Akiva was an ignorant sheppard. Only at the age of 40, with the encouragement of his wife, did he make an effort to study Torah. He studied diligently and forty years later, Rabbi Akiva became the greatest Talmudic sage of his time, leading a Yeshiva with thousands of students! Indeed this special day teaches us a very encouraging and wonderful lesson!
SHABBAT SHALOM
Montrealcandle lighting time: 7:52 / Shabbat ends: 9:04