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06/05/2020 09:14:24 AM

May6

Dear Congregational Family,

This Thursday night and Friday on the Jewish calendar is called Pesach Sheni, a second Passover. In ancient times, if one was ritually impure or far away and could not bring the Passover offering to the Temple, that person could do so exactly one month later.

Once the Temple was destroyed, the ritual of Pesach Sheni became inoperative. The practice of the Seder came into existence, a tradition that we look forward to every year, going back almost two thousand years.

The ongoing lesson of Pesach Sheni is the idea of second chances. Just as the impure person or the person far away was given a second chance in antiquity, so too we should give people a second chance to refine their behavior.

A month ago, I suggested the idea that maybe we could use the date of Pesach Sheni to hold the large kind of family Seder that we had to miss last month. Sadly, social distancing is as essential today as it was a few weeks ago.

Nevertheless, we should not miss out on the joy of extending second chances and opportunities. The sad prayer Tachanun is omitted on Pesach Sheni because of the joy associated with a second Passover.

Thus, I wish everyone this coming Thursday night and Friday, "Chag Pesach Sheni Sameach."

 

Rabbi Howard Morrison

Thu, 28 March 2024 18 Adar II 5784