Adapted from a post by Jonathan Sredni dedicated in memory of his father Yaacov Zeev Yisrael ben Shmuel
This Sunday is a 'minor' holiday of Biblical origin, Pesach Sheni - the "Second" Pesach. To be honest, Pesach Sheni hardly gets much recognition. Aside from not saying Tachanun (the supplication prayer said on regular days, but not on festive ones) and the tradition to eat Matzah on Pesach Sheni, it hardly seems to warrant any (second) thought. But there is more to Pesach Sheni than meets the eye.
The source for Pesach Sheni can be found in Chapter 9 of the book of Numbers. Moshe announced that the Passover sacrifice (Korban Pesach) may only be eaten by people who are tahor, ritually pure. One who was ritually unclean, ta'mai, was not allowed to bring and partake of the Paschal Offering.
We then read that a group of people approached Moshe and Aharon at the time of the first Pesach after the exodus. They, because of the fact they were ritually unclean from contact with a corpse, were not able to bring the offering. This group asked Moshe and Aharon "Why are we being prevented from bringing the offering with the rest of Israel, in the proper time?' The response from Moshe was, "Stand and hear what G-d has commanded you." Then, the Torah relates the laws concerning Pesach Sheni, an opportunity for all those who missed bringing the Korban Pesach at the proper time through no fault of their own, to bring this offering, on the 14th of Iyar, a full month later and hence fulfill this special commandment.
In Chassidic philosophy, especially as expounded by Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, Pesach Sheni is about second chances, since the original Pesach Sheni was in response to people who had been unable to be included in the Pesach observance and were granted another opportunity exactly one full month after the first Pesach.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe explains how another story in the book of Numbers, that of the daughters of Tzelofchad, is similar to the institution of Pesach Sheni. In that episode, five sisters came with a claim to the leaders of their generation explaining that their father died, leaving no male heir, and the portion of the Land that should be given to their branch of the family would consequently be given to another branch. These women were basically saying, "We care so much, why should we lose?"
G-d's response is that when there are no sons, daughters, in fact do inherit. By including this whole exchange as part of the Torah, these women are heroines for all ages. The same can be said about the Jews who did not want to miss the opportunity to sacrifice the Paschal Lamb. In both cases the Jews were saying, "This is so important to us, why should we lose out?" In both situations G-d on High responded to a claim made from below! (This is in contrast to Moses teaching G-d's commands - the emphasis on receiving rather than initiating.)
Among the many lessons to be derived from these incidents is an all-important approach to Mitzvot. Do we see them as a burden or an opportunity? If, for some reason, I wasn't able to do a mitzva before, am I "left out", or do I want, even need to seek a second chance?
Please do give it a second thought this Pesach Sheni.
"Dueling Rabbis": Ethics of our Ancestors
Chapter Five
Boardman Road Library, Poughkeepsie
****