The first Pesach Sheni was observed in the second year after the Israelites left Egypt. When Passover came, many men were ritually impure because they were carrying Joseph’s remains from Egypt to the Promised Land. They were not allowed to bring the Passover offering with the rest of the people at the appointed time. They approached Moses, asking what they should do, as they too wished to celebrate the holiday. That’s when G‑d gave the law of Pesach Sheni.
The Torah states: “…a person who was impure or on a distant journey may celebrate Passover one month later, on the fourteenth day of the second month (Iyar)…” (Numbers 9:9–11). Naturally, this applied only when the Holy Temple stood, and the central part of the celebration was the Passover sacrifice.
The Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, taught that Pesach Sheni teaches us that it’s never too late — nothing is beyond repair, and there is always room for correction.
Though we can no longer offer sacrifices due to the destruction of the Temple and the absence of ritual purity, we still mark Pesach Sheni. On this day, the penitential prayer (Tachanun) is omitted from services. According to tradition, we eat matzah (preferably shmurah matzah), though chametz is not prohibited.
A question arises: why can’t the Passover commandments be fulfilled immediately upon purification — why wait a whole month? The Tzemach Tzedek explains: Divine service has two major stages — “turning away from evil” and “doing good.” The second is impossible without the first.
The month of Nissan, the time of the Exodus, represents the first stage. The Israelites didn’t just leave — they fled Egypt, striving to escape the spiritual impurity that had surrounded them for so long. The original Passover sacrifice symbolized that break.
By the month of Iyar, they were spiritually ready to do good. They began preparing to receive the Torah on Shavuot. In Chassidic terms, the first month reflects iskafya — subduing the evil inclination — while the second reflects ishapcha — transforming it into good. This is echoed in halacha: during the first Passover, only matzah is eaten and chametz is forbidden. On Pesach Sheni, both matzah and chametz are permitted — representing the transformation of the negative into positive through our service.
Many see the introduction of Pesach Sheni not merely as a divine commandment, but as a response from Above to the heartfelt plea of Jews who missed the opportunity to bring an offering due to caring for the dead. It shows that sincere desire for teshuvah and mitzvah fulfillment can even transcend the laws of the physical world — including the constraints of time itself.
Based on www.ru.chabad.org
