By COLlive reporter
The 14th of Iyar is “Pesach Sheni,” the alternative day prescribed to bringing the Korban Pesach for those who weren’t able to do so before Pesach on the 14th of Nissan.
The Torah tells that “There were, however, certain persons who had become ritually impure through contact with a dead body, and could not, therefore, prepare the Passover offering on that day.”
They approached Moshe and Aaron and they said: “Why should we be deprived, and not be able to present G-d’s offering in its time, amongst the children of Israel?”
In response to their plea, G-d established the 14th of Iyar as a “second Passover” for anyone who was unable to bring the offering on its appointed time in the previous month.
The day thus represents the “second chance” achieved by teshuvah the power of repentance and “return.” In the words of the Frierdiker Rebbe, “The Second Passover means that it’s never a ‘lost case.'”
It is customary to eat matzah on this day. Rabbi Levi Garelik, a halachic authority in Brooklyn and Brussels who also guides a Virtual Community, recommends that Lubavitchers do so at two different times.
“In Igros Kodesh, the Rebbe writes that the Minhag Beis Chayenu (in the household of the Frierdiker Rebbe), the minhag is to eat by day,” he says.
On the other hand, “In several Farbrengens, the Rebbe mentioned many times the minhag to eat at night, following Pesach Sheni – the eve of the 15th of Iyar.”
Rabbi Garelik concludes that “Therefore, we eat Matzo during the day meal, and (also later) at night, with the certainty that IY”H tonight we will celebrate Pesach Sheni in Bais Hamikdosh Hashlishi.”
All the above questions (and comments) are addressed on the website. In this article they only quoted a few words from there.
Can a person fast on pessach sheini? On the 14th of Nisson – it actually is a fast day for bechorim, so is the second pessach more “stringent” in this regard, and fasting is not allowed?
In the sicha of shabbos shmini 5740 (sichos kodesh, shmini, ois 28) the rebbe says that some don’t eat matzo at all, some eat on the night before pessach sheni, others eat it during the day of pessach sheni and others eat it on the night following pessach sheni. Those who are the most mehadrin eat matzo on these 3 times.
the Rebbe writes to say Tachanun yesterday by mincha, (usually erev yomtov one does not say tachanun)
bc the main Yomtov of pessach sheni is tonight .the time of bringing the Korban.(as oppose to a regular yomtov that starts the night BEFOER) therefore lichoireh the right zeman of eating matzoh would be today in the evening.
Are you allowed to eat roasted meat (or baked chicken) today or tonight? At the seder we can’t because it “looks” like korbon pessach – the same reason should apply on pessach sheni!
I’ve also heard of people eating bbq lamb in a hillel sandwich with matza and maror on this day
Thanks for clearing that up. I was wondering about it. Now I don’t have to wonder anymore.
very nice collive!