If the Milk Can’t Be Unspilled, Why Not Cry?

Pesach Sheni, “the Second Passover,” is observed on the fourteenth of Iyar.

The origin of this semi-holiday is quite fascinating. On the first anniversary of the Exodus, while all the Jews were occupied with preparing their lambs for the annual Paschal offering, Moses was approached by a small group of Jews who were ritually impure and thus excluded from offering, or partaking of, the Paschal lamb. They weren’t satisfied with their “exemption” from this Passover mitzvah. “Why should we be deprived?” they exclaimed. “We, too, want to experience the spiritual freedom gained by participating in the Paschal service!”

Moses agreed to convey their grievance to the Almighty, and incredibly, the heartfelt wishes of this small group caused G‑d to add a mitzvah to the Torah. G‑d instructed that from that year and onwards, all those who weren’t capable of offering the Paschal Lamb in its proper time on the fourteenth of Nissan, due to impurity or distance from the Temple, should offer the Paschal lamb exactly one month later, on the fourteenth of Iyar.

Jewish holidays are not commemorations of historical events; rather, they are spiritual reenactments. No two holidays are alike—every holiday features a distinct spiritual energy, offering us the opportunity to gain inspiration and the necessary spiritual powers in a specific area of our service of G‑d. On Passover we receive the strength to liberate ourselves from our natural enslavement to our impulses and destructive habits; on Shavuot we tap into the core of the Torah, recommitting ourselves to connecting with G‑d through its study; and on Sukkot we fill the reservoirs of our hearts with true joy. We stock up on these unique spiritual powers, enough to last us for an entire year, until the holiday returns once again. The mitzvot unique to each holiday are tools which enable us to tap into the spiritual energies present at that time.

Immediately after Passover we are taught an important lesson, a lesson which applies to all the following holidays, tooPassover is the first holiday of the year, as the “holiday calendar” commences on the first of Nissan. Immediately after this holiday we are taught an important lesson, a lesson which applies to all the following holidays too. Indeed, there is a biblically mandated designated time for Passover, but a person who for one reason or another has missed out and did not take advantage of the benefits which the holiday has to offer can have a personal Passover whenever he sincerely yearns for divine assistance in gaining personal redemption.

According to Kabbalah, the months of Nissan and Iyar are diametrical opposites. Nissan is a month pervaded by divine kindness: the month when G-d redeemed—and redeems—even those who are unworthy of redemption. Iyar, on the other hand, is a month of discipline and self-improvement: the month when we count the Omer and are involved in personal refinement in order to earn the right to receive the Torah in the following month. Yet, the penitent Jew has the ability to experience a Nissan redemptive holiday even during the month of Iyar!

The lesson of Pesach Sheni is that it is never too late. Never think, “Everyone else has already left Egypt weeks ago, and is well on their way toward receiving the Torah—and I haven’t even begun my spiritual journey! I’m impure!” Don’t despair; you too can make the Passover leap and join everyone else in their state of Redemption, worthy of receiving the Torah on the holiday of Shavuot.

It’s no use crying over spilled milk, because G‑d has an infinite supply of milk which can be accessed anytime—provided that we have a sincere thirst, and express to Him this feeling.

May we soon merit to see the coming of Moshiach, when we—who in our current exiled condition are “impure” due to our “distance” from G‑d—will all bring the Paschal lamb in the Third Holy Temple in Jerusalem. Amen!