Two Passovers??

This Sunday is Pesach Sheini, the second Passover.

A year after the Jews left Egypt, G-d instructed them to bring the Passover offering on the afternoon of the fourteenth of Nissan, and to eat it that evening, roasted over the fire, together with matzah and bitter herbs, as they had done the previous year just before they left Egypt.

There were, however, certain people who had become ritually impure through contact with a dead body, and could not, therefore, prepare the Passover offering on that day. They approached Moses and Aaron saying, “Why should we be deprived, and not be able to present G‑d’s offering?”

In response to their plea, G‑d established the 14th of Iyar as a day for the “Second Passover” (Pesach Sheni) for anyone who was unable to bring the offering on its appointed time in the previous month. Even now, it is customary to mark this day by eating matzah.

But, what about the other holidays? Why isn’t there a second Sukkot? With this reasoning, why can’t someone celebrate Shabbat on Monday? Why was Pesach singled out?

Truthfully, this isn’t about Pesach. This is about the Jews asking for a second chance. This is about the Jews reaching out and beseeching G-d, “Why should we lose out?” And G-d responded.

We, too, must ask, “Why should we be deprived? We can’t bring sacrifices! We don’t see G-d’s presence like they did then! We demand Moshiach!” Surely, if we ask with sincerity, G-d will respond.

Have a good Shabbos!

Candle lighting time is before 7:46 PM.