Guest Article

Pesach Sheni

This year, Pesach Sheni is Wednesday, May 18th.
In the time of the Beit HaMikdash, someone who was not part of a Chavura for Pesach Rishon (14 Nisan) was required to bring Korban Pesach on the 14th of Iyar.
Food for thought…
The Torah mentions two official excuses for “missing” Pesach Rishon (on 14 Nissan) and being commanded to bring the KP on 14 Iyar - TAMEI, ritually defiled because of contact with a dead body or other source of TUM’A and DERECH R’CHOKA, “far” away from the Mikdash. The exact definition of “far away” is disputed, said dispute not relevant to the point being made here.
The Mishna in P’sachim (9:1) “adds” SHOGEIG or NE’ENAS to the list of excuses which “bump” a person to Pesach Sheni. These would include being sick, having forgotten, not having a proper animal for the KP - and various and sundry other excuses - good or less good (thought it was tomorrow; stubbed my toe and waited at Terem to be treated, my lamb ran away…). The Mishna asks and answers the question as to what is the difference between the Torah’s two excuses and others. The answer to this question has to do with punishment for missing both opportunities and various combinations of reasons as to why each opportunity was missed. This is also besides the point (of this column).
What is the point of this piece is what the Rambam states in the paragraph following what has been mentioned above so far. He says that a person who intentionally did not bring KP on the 14th of Nissan, is obligated to bring KP on Pesach Sheni. Excuse for missing the first date? NONE. Nonetheless, the mitzvot of Pesach Sheni apply and are available to this individual.
Pesach Sheni is a special example of G-d’s giving us a second chance. Time-related mitzvot generally do not have make-up dates. This one does. The details of culpability for non-compliance might be different depending upon why one or the other was missed. But every Jew is given this second chance for this mitzva - THE prime membership rite in Klal Yisrael. (There are others.)
Interesting point in contrast:
We have a topic in the laws of davening that resembles the concept of Pesach Sheni. It isn’t the same, to be sure, but the resemblance is there.
If a person erred and missed a davening, he has an opportunity at the next davening to make up the omission. This is accomplished by saying a second Amida to the current one. This is called Tashlumin. If one let’s Mincha pass inadvertently, when he davens Maariv he follows the Maariv Amida with another (Maariv) Amida. Does a person say a Tashlumin Amida if he slept through the morning and missed Shacharit? Yes. At Mincha. Any excuse? Yes. What about intentionally skipping Mincha intending to do Tashlumin at Maariv? No, sorry. Can’t do it. It is as if G-d’s patience with the one who missed KP is infinite - Rabbinic patience has its limit.
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If the Beit HaMikdash stood today, and if you were TAMEI (or other reasons) and missed Korban Pesach last month, you would be in the final stages of purification in anticipation of bringing Korban Pesach (Sheni) this Wednesday afternoon.

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