B"H
Wednesday, Iyar 14, 5784 / May 22, 2024 (29th day of the Omer)
Today, the 14th of Iyar in the Hebrew calendar, is Pesach Sheini. The literal translation of Pesach Sheini is, “The second Pesach.” During the days of the Temple, Pesach Sheini was an important day.
Here is the historical background of how this 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 as a result of coming in contact with a dead body and thus couldn’t 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 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 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 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, to remember the days of the Temple. However, the lesson of the significance of this special day is everlasting just as in the days of the Temple.
Pesach Sheini teaches us that we should never say, “We missed our chance and it’s too late.” Pesach Sheini is all about getting another chance! Indeed, G-d always gives us another chance and another chance. But it’s up to us to recognize it and 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 second chance and began studying 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! This special day of Pesach Sheini, teaches us a very encouraging, practical, and wonderful lesson – IT’S NEVER TOO LATE!
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY & VERY SUCCESSFUL DAY
UNITED WE STAND WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CAPTIVITY. MAY THEY ALL BE RELEASED NOW.