The Second Passover
It is customary on Pesach Sheni (the "Second Passover") to eat matza, together with bread, in commemoration of the day.
In the times of the Holy Temple, all those who were unable to offer the Passover sacrifice at the proper time, on the 14th of Nissan, were permitted to bring it in the second month, on the 14th of Iyar.
This special sacrifice was initiated during the second year of the Jewish people's wandering in the Sinai desert, a year after the first Passover had been celebrated in the wilderness.
Some Jews due to ritual impurity, had not been permitted to offer the Passover sacrifice.
They approached Moses and Aaron and protested, "Why are we kept back, that we may not offer the offering of G-d in the appointed season among the children of Israel?"
They complained that unavoidable circumstances had prevented them from offering the sacrifice. They did not want to be denied the great reward of performing the mitzva.
Our ancestors' request was sincere and valid, and so, permission to bring the Passover sacrifice one month later was granted to anyone, throughout the generations, who was ritually impure, in a distant place, was prevented by some unavoidable circumstance, failed unintentionally or even intentionally.
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn of Saintly memory, the previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, points out that there are many essential lessons we can learn from Pesach Sheni, including that it is never too late to correct a past failing.
For us today, as we stand literally on the threshold of the Redemption, the most appropriate lesson is that what the Jews sincerely requested, they received!
In the spirit of Pesach Sheni, each and every one of us today, must request, demand, ask and beg for the revelation of Moshiach and the commencement of the glorious Redemption. Then, certainly, G-d will hear our plea and answer them as in the days of old.
We can recall the lesson which my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe [Rayatz], derived from Pesach Sheni - that "there is no such thing as too late." Things can always be rectified.
Even if one was impure, or "on a distant road of yours" - even if a man was remote by choice - he can still set things in order.
What is more, the Torah turns this day into a veritable Yom-Tov with all the festive trappings, like the first (regular) Pesach.
And for whom? - For a minority of the community (for the law prescribes that a majority is not deferred until Pesach Sheni).
Indeed, Pesach Sheni is observed even for one solitary individual, for in G-d's eyes every single individual Jew is estimable and precious.
