Yamim Tovimימים טובים

The Observance of Pesach Sheini

These sources outline the biblical and rabbinic laws of Pesach Sheini, the makeup Passover offering observed on the 14th of Iyar by those who were impure or unable to bring the korban on Pesach. The sources explore who is obligated, the ritual requirements, and the theological status of this observance as either a independent festival or a remedy for the missed first Pesach.

מִי שֶׁהָיָה טָמֵא אוֹ בְדֶרֶךְ רְחוֹקָה וְלֹא עָשָׂה אֶת הָרִאשׁוֹן, יַעֲשֶׂה אֶת הַשֵּׁנִי

5 sources · verified

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Source 1 · Tanach
Verified

Bamidbar / Numbers 9

Numbers 9:1-14

The foundational biblical passage describing Pesach Sheini: those who were impure or on a distant journey during Pesach could bring the korban on the 14th of Iyar, one month later. The Torah emphasizes 'lo yipakeid' — no person shall be excluded from the Passover offering.

דַּבֵּ֛ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר אִ֣ישׁ אִ֣ישׁ כִּי־יִהְיֶֽה־טָמֵ֣א ׀ לָנֶ֡פֶשׁ אוֹ֩ בְדֶ֨רֶךְ רְחֹקָ֜הׄ לָכֶ֗ם א֚וֹ לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וְעָ֥שָׂה פֶ֖סַח לַיהֹוָֽה׃ בַּחֹ֨דֶשׁ הַשֵּׁנִ֜י בְּאַרְבָּעָ֨ה עָשָׂ֥ר י֛וֹם בֵּ֥ין הָעַרְבַּ֖יִם יַעֲשׂ֣וּ אֹת֑וֹ עַל־מַצּ֥וֹת וּמְרֹרִ֖ים יֹאכְלֻֽהוּ׃ לֹֽא־יַשְׁאִ֤ירוּ מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ עַד־בֹּ֔קֶר וְעֶ֖צֶם לֹ֣א יִשְׁבְּרוּ־ב֑וֹ כְּכׇל־חֻקַּ֥ת הַפֶּ֖סַח יַעֲשׂ֥וּ אֹתֽוֹ׃

Speak to the Israelite people, saying: Regarding anyone—whether you or your posterity—who is defiled by a corpse or is on a long journey and would offer a passover sacrifice to GOD: They shall offer it in the second month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight. They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs, and they shall not leave any of it over until morning. They shall not break a bone of it. They shall offer it in strict accord with the law of the passover sacrifice.

Why it matters — The primary source establishing Pesach Sheini and its unique theme: no Jew is ever lost or beyond redemption — there is always a second chance.

Source 2 · Chazal
Verified

Mishnah Pesachim, Chapter 9

Mishnah Pesachim 9:1-3

The Mishnah discusses in detail the laws of Pesach Sheini: who is obligated, what differences exist from the first Pesach (no prohibition of chametz in one's home, eaten for only one night rather than two), and how it serves as a genuine makeup offering rather than a lesser substitute.

מִי שֶׁהָיָה טָמֵא אוֹ בְדֶרֶךְ רְחוֹקָה וְלֹא עָשָׂה אֶת הָרִאשׁוֹן, יַעֲשֶׂה אֶת הַשֵּׁנִי. שָׁגַג אוֹ נֶאֱנַס וְלֹא עָשָׂה אֶת הָרִאשׁוֹן, יַעֲשֶׂה אֶת הַשֵּׁנִי. אִם כֵּן, לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר טָמֵא אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה בְדֶרֶךְ רְחוֹקָה, שֶׁאֵלּוּ פְּטוּרִין מֵהִכָּרֵת, וְאֵלּוּ חַיָּבִין בְּהִכָּרֵת: מַה בֵּין פֶּסַח רִאשׁוֹן לַשֵּׁנִי, הָרִאשׁוֹן אָסוּר בְּבַל יֵרָאֶה וּבַל יִמָּצֵא, וְהַשֵּׁנִי, מַצָּה וְחָמֵץ עִמּוֹ בַּבָּיִת. הָרִאשׁוֹן טָעוּן הַלֵּל בַּאֲכִילָתוֹ, וְהַשֵּׁנִי אֵינוֹ טָעוּן הַלֵּל בַּאֲכִילָתוֹ. זֶה וָזֶה טָעוּן הַלֵּל בַּעֲשִׂיָּתָן, וְנֶאֶכָלִין צָלִי עַל מַצּוֹת וּמְרוֹרִים, וְדוֹחִין אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת:

One who was ritually impure or on a distant journey and did not observe the first Pesaḥ by participating in the offering of the Paschal lamb on the fourteenth of Nisan should observe the second Pesaḥ by participating in the offering on the fourteenth of Iyyar. If one unwittingly forgot or was prevented due to circumstances beyond his control and did not observe the first Pesaḥ, he too should observe the second Pesaḥ. If so, that the second Pesaḥ is observed even by someone who forgot or was prevented from observing the first Pesaḥ, why is it stated in the Torah that the second Pesaḥ is observed only by one who was ritually impure or on a distant journey? These cases were specified in order to teach that these two groups of people are exempt from karet if they do not observe the second Pesaḥ, but those who were not ritually impure or on a distant journey are liable to receive karet, as the Gemara will explain. What is the difference between the Paschal lamb offered on the first Pesaḥ and the Paschal lamb offered on the second Pesaḥ? On the first Pesaḥ, at the time of slaughtering the Paschal lamb, it is prohibited to own leavened bread due to the prohibitions: It shall not be seen, and: It shall not be found. And on the second Pesaḥ it is permissible for one to have both leavened bread and matza with him in the house. Another difference is that the Paschal lamb offered on the first Pesaḥ requires the recitation of hallel as it is eaten and the second does not require the recitation of hallel as it is eaten. However, they are the same in that the Paschal lambs sacrificed on both the first and second Pesaḥ require the recitation of hallel as they are prepared, i.e., as they are slaughtered, and they are both eaten roasted with matza and bitter herbs, and they override Shabbat in that they may be slaughtered and their blood sprinkled even on Shabbat.

Why it matters — The core halakhic framework of Pesach Sheini establishes the nature of the day as a real obligation with its own distinct character.

Source 3 · Chazal
Verified

Talmud Bavli, Pesachim 93a-93b

Pesachim 93a

The Talmud derives from the Torah passage who is considered 'far away' (rachok) to be eligible for Pesach Sheini. It also discusses whether Pesach Sheini is a tikun (remedy/makeup) or a regel (festival) in its own right.

בְּמַאי קָמִיפַּלְגִי? רַבִּי סָבַר: שֵׁנִי רֶגֶל בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ הוּא. רַבִּי נָתָן סָבַר: שֵׁנִי תַּשְׁלוּמִין דְּרִאשׁוֹן הוּא. תַּקּוֹנֵי לָרִאשׁוֹן, לָא מְתַקֵּין לֵיהּ. וְרַבִּי חֲנַנְיָא בֶּן עֲקַבְיָא סָבַר: שֵׁנִי תַּקַּנְתָּא דְרִאשׁוֹן הוּא.

The Gemara explains: With regard to what do they disagree? Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi holds that the second Pesaḥ is its own Festival, and anyone who did not participate in the first Pesaḥ is obligated to participate in the second even if he was not fit to bring the Paschal lamb on the first Pesaḥ. Conversely, Rabbi Natan holds that the second Pesaḥ is merely a redress for the first Pesaḥ, such that if one was obligated to bring the Paschal lamb on the first Pesaḥ and did not, he may do so on the second Pesaḥ; however, it does not repair the failure to bring the Paschal lamb on the first Pesaḥ. Therefore, one who intentionally refrained from bringing the Paschal lamb on the first Pesaḥ is liable to receive karet even if he brought the Paschal lamb on the second Pesaḥ. However, if one unwittingly failed to sacrifice the Paschal lamb on the first Pesaḥ, he is not liable to receive karet even if he intentionally refrained from observing the second Pesaḥ. And Rabbi Ḥananya ben Akavya held: The second Pesaḥ repairs the failure to offer the Paschal lamb on the first Pesaḥ. In other words, the Paschal lamb brought on the second Pesaḥ is not an independent obligation; rather, it allows a second chance to avoid the liability to receive karet.

Why it matters — The Talmudic deliberation over whether Pesach Sheini constitutes a full festival or merely a corrective makeup shapes how we understand the spiritual nature of the day.

Source 4 · Rishonim
Verified

Chovot HaLevavot, Sha'ar HaTeshuvah

Duties of the Heart, Seventh Treatise on Repentance, Introduction

Rabbeinu Bachya teaches that the gates of return are always open and no person should despair of being able to repair their relationship with God. Missed spiritual opportunities can always be recaptured through sincere repentance and effort.

וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהִתְבָּרֵר אָפְנֵי הַקִּצּוּר בְּמַעֲשֵׂי הָאָדָם הָיָה מֵחִנּוֹת הַבּוֹרֵא אוֹתוֹ שֶׁנָּתַן לוֹ יְכֹלֶת לְתַקֵּן טָעוּתוֹ וּלְהָשִׁיב אֲבֵדַת עֲבוֹדָתוֹ בַּתְּשׁוּבָה וְהֵעִיר אוֹתוֹ עָלֶיהָ בְּאַהֲבָתוֹ וּבְחֶמְלָתוֹ עָלָיו וְאַחַר כָּךְ נִחֵץ דְּבָרָהּ וְהִבְטִיחַ בָּהּ עַל יְדֵי עֲבָדָיו הַנְּבִיאִים וְהִרְחִיב אֲמַתְלָאוֹתֵינוּ בִּנְטוֹתֵנוּ מִדֶּרֶךְ עֲבוֹדָתוֹ וְיִעֵד אוֹתָנוּ לְקַבֵּל אוֹתָהּ מִמֶּנּוּ וְלִרְצוֹת בָּנוּ מְהֵרָה וְאִם אָרַךְ הַמְרוֹתֵנוּ אֶת דְּבָרוֹ וַהֲפָרָתֵנוּ אֶת בְּרִיתוֹ כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאֵר (יחזקאל לג) בְּפָרָשַׁת וּבְשׁוּב רָשָׁע מֵרִשְׁעָתוֹ וְעָשָׂה מִשְׁפָּט וְגוֹ׳.

Since we have clarified the reality that man's actions fall short, it was out of Divine grace to man that the Creator gave him the capability of rectifying his mistake and of returning the loss of his service through repentance. G-d encouraged the matter and promised (its effectiveness) through his servants, the prophets. And He expanded the possible excuses (vindications) for the man who went off the path of His service, and promised us that He would accept these excuses from us, and desire in us quickly, even if we rebelled against His word and broke His covenant for a long time as written: "And when a wicked man repents of his wickedness and performs justice and righteousness, he shall live thereby..." (Yechezkel 33:19).

Why it matters — The theological message underlying Pesach Sheini — that there is always a second chance — finds its musar parallel in Chovot HaLevavot's teaching on teshuvah and renewed spiritual opportunity.

Source 5 · Acharonim
Verified

Maharal, Netivot Olam — Netiv HaTeshuvah

Netivot Olam, Netiv Hatshuva 1:1

The Maharal explains that teshuvah (return) is built into the very structure of reality — the possibility of repair is never exhausted. A person who has missed a mitzvah retains the ability to reconnect with its spiritual root.

ומה הוא הדבר הזה, כי האדם יש לו לחשוב על דרכיו.

Why it matters — The Maharal's framework of teshuvah as a cosmic reality provides philosophical grounding for the Pesach Sheini principle that no spiritual loss is permanent.