Feature Tidbit
for Parashat Bhaaloscha

Once on the Calendar and Again in Parshat HaShauva

The 14th of Nissan was/will be the day for the bringing of the Korban Pesach. It IS the day - past, present, and future - for learning about the K.P. and its lessons and messages. The 14th of Iyar was/will be the day for Pesach Sheni. But even today, between Beit HaMikdashes, we can learn some important lessons by studying the mitzvot of Korban Pesach Sheni.

And this Shabbat is the 14th of Sivan. Another month has past - many other calendar dates has past - and we are again presented with Pesach Sheni, this time in Parshat HaShavua. The opportunity to read/study/think about Pesach Sheni is again presented to us. Not for nothing. This time it's a week after Shavuot. Not in the middle of the Omer. New perspective. Different directions for our thoughts to wander.

As you know, the Torah provides for two "official" excuses for not bringing K.P. - TAMEI or DERECH R'CHOKA, ritual impurity and physical distance from Jerusalem at the beginning of Nissan 14.

The Mishna teaches us that all other kinds of excuses for missing K.P. the first time around result in the obligation of Pesach Sheni. Obligation and Mitzva and opportunity from G-d to fill the void left by not bringing Korban Pesach. Apparently, there is a void, even when valid excuses remove any culpability from our non-fulfillment of the mitzva of K.P.

Let's go one step further. Rambam indicates that even with no excuse - good or poor - a person still has the mitzva/opportunity of Pesach Sheni. And that includes one who intentionally, even spitefully, refused to have anything to do with K.P. the first time around. The halacha could have been that Pesach Sheni is only for someone who missed the first with some valid reason. Could have been. But it isn't that way. Even MEIZID gets a second chance. It isn't always this way, but there is a point to be made here.

Take a look at a halachic topic that jumps to mind when thinking about K.P. and Pesach Sheni. Davening. Let's take Maariv. You can daven Maariv all night. Comes morning and you realize you hadn't davened Maariv the night before, there is TASHLUMIN, some form of "make up". When one davens Shacharit, after the Amida he says another Amida for the mariv he missed. Is he davening Maariv now? No. He can't it's the morning. Maariv is only at night. On the 14th of Iyar, is he bringing Korban Pesach? No. It's time is the afternoon of the 14th of Nissan. So what is he davening with the second Amida? Something called Tashlumin, which in some way fills the void of the missed Maariv. But it is its own thing. Just like Pesach Sheni fills the void of the missed first Pesach. but it is its own thing.

Under what circumstances can a person daven Tashlumin to make up for a davening he missed? Fell asleep? Okay. Didn't feel well? Okay. Forgot to daven? Okay. Not a great excuse, but Tashlumin it is. Was hung over? Yes, even then. Purposely didn't daven Maariv. No Tashlumin. Tashlumin is only for TA'A, you made a mistake and didn't daven. Not for on purpose.

But Pesach Sheni is also for the one who intentionally didn't bring K.P. Why the difference?

Maybe (just maybe) this is the difference between G-d and human beings.

Our Sages drew the line at intentional skipping. Their patience, shall we say is finite. Not so will G-d's patience. it is infinite. He will even accept a Korban Pesach from the spiteful, intentional non-bringer of 14 Nissan.

Let's continue the train of thought. A person purposely skipped Mincha because he was in the middle of an exciting baseball game. Comes Maariv - no Tashlumin. But the person is truly regretful. Is there nothing he can do? Comes the halacha and allows him to daven a second Amida at Maariv (in this case). Not as Tashlumin. But as a N'DAVA. A voluntary, optional Amida. Without going into all the details of T'FILAT N'DAVA, let's suffice it to say that the Shulchan Aruch would prefer that a person daven properly the three required times, rather than "play around" with extra optional prayers. But it is available in certain situations.

Wandered away from the topic of Pesach Sheni, but that's okay to do this time. If we had a Beit HaMikdash today, and it was 14 Iyar, then a study and review of Pesach Sheni would have to stay on the topic. Practical application takes priority. But a month later, when the topic is in Parshat HaShavua, then we can let the learning associate from topic to topic and derive all kinds of lessons from our study.

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