B"H
Monday, Iyar 15, 5782 (30th day of the Omer)/ May 16, 2022
Yesterday, the 14th of Iyar, was Pesach Sheini. The literal translation of Pesach Sheini is, “The second Pesach.” In the time of the Holy Temples, Pesach Sheini was an important day with practical implications.
Here is how this special day came about. The Torah, in Numbers chapter 9, tells us that one year after the Exodus, 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 carrying the remains of Joseph to be buried in Israel and one who comes in contact with a dead body cannot partake in the sacrifice.
The men then came to Moshe and said, "Why should we be lacking the mitzvah of sacrificing 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 among 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 make the Pesach offering to the L-rd 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 Passover, was given a second chance to perform the mitzvah, one month later on the 14th of Iyar.
Today we don’t have the Temple and as a result sacrifices are forbidden, so the application of Pesach Sheini as it was then, for the purpose of bringing the Pesach sacrifice, is not applicable.
However, the spiritual idea of Pesach Sheini and the lesson it teaches is forever. Pesach Sheini teaches us that we should never say, “We missed our chance and it’s too late.” Pesach Sheini is all about having another chance! Indeed, G-d gives us always another chance and another chance. But it’s up to us to take advantage of it.
Another important 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 first move to show G-d that we really want that second 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, Rachel, did he get his chance 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!
Pesach Sheini, teaches us to never give up if we failed the first time, for G-d always gives us a second chance.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & SUCCESSFUL DAY