Question:
What and when is Pesach Sheni and how is it observed?
Answer:
Pesach Sheini is thirty days after the first Pesach, which is always on the 29th day of the omer (this year on Sunday April 29). In the time of the Bais Hamikdash, any person that was not able to bring the Paskel sacrifice (Korban Pesach) on the 14th of Nissan, had a “second chance” to bring it on the 14th of Iyar. The reason we have this historically, is because there were numerous people in the desert that were ritually impure on the 14th of NIssan, and they came complaining to Moshe, that they don’t want to lose out on the opportunity to bring the Korban Pesach and to do this tremendous mitzva. Moshe asked H-shem, and H-shem told him that they would be given a day to make it up, which is Pesach Sheini. Nowadays, that we don’t have the Bais Hamikdash this part of this festival is not really observed, except for the fact that we don’t say tachanun or “lamnatzeiach”, and some people have the custom to eat some matzo as a remembrance of the day.
There are some deep underlying messages for us in Pesach Sheini. That when a person is unable to do one of the commandments, even if he is not at fault at all, and it is because of circumstances beyond his control, he should still realize that not doing the mitzvah is a tremendous loss for him. Just like a day that someone couldn’t come to the stock market to trade because he is sick. True he is not at fault, but he is still missing out on the opportunity. Secondly, that when a person really wants to perform the mitzvos, and appreciates them, that H-shem will create and give him the opportunity to perform more mitzvos, and he will gain more personal perfection, and more reward in the world to come.
