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The Pesach Sheini Wrap Print E-mail

PesachWe already mentioned Pesach Sheini during the seder! Hillel's source for the practice of the famous Pesach, Matzah and Maror sandwich (Numbers 9:11)-- "They shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs" -- appears to be taken out of context. The verse he uses refers to those participating in Pesach Sheini (individuals who could not take part in Pesach Rishon ). It seems quite strange that Hillel's source for Korech which is eaten on Pesach Rishon is based on a verse dealing with Pesach Sheini.

There is a fascinating Midrash Rabbah (Emor 30:14) linking the Arba Minim (the four species) of Succos with the three main elements of the Pesach Seder -- Pesach, Matzah, and Marror. We know that on Succot the various Minim, bound together, represent the different types of Jews, united as one. "The same is true on Pesach," writes the great Chassidic Rebbe, Rav Meyer Yehuda Leibish of Turka (Poland) in his commentary on the Haggadah, Beit HaYayin:

"The Korban Pesach represents the accomplished Tzadikim (righteous ones). Marror represents the symbol of evil, as its gematria (numerical value) is equivalent to 446, or the Hebrew letters (mem, vav, taf, spelling mavet, or death), as rishayim even while they are alive, are valueless as if they were dead.' Matzah, the antithesis of chametz, represents the middle class, the beinonim, who succeed in abstaining from evil and aspire to accomplish good."
Based on the Midrash Rabbah and the interpretation of the Beit HaYayin, it would appear that by wrapping the Matzah and Maror together (and, according to some customs, dipping it into the sweet charoset), we are cementing a bond amongst Klal Yisrael.

Care and love for one another is the essence of the whole Torah. The Gemara teaches that the Beit HaMikdash was destroyed because of Sinat Chinam (unwarranted hatred). Only Ahavat Chinam can bring about its return. Hillel not only personified this philosophy, but enacted it in practice by wrapping together the Pesach, Matzah, and Marror.

Ahavat Chinam often demands giving someone a second chance to repair his life and behavior. Pesach Sheini is all about second chances.
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