Day 29 of the Omer

פֶּסַח שֵׁנִי עִנְיָנוֹ אִיז — עֶס אִיז נִיטאָ קֵיין “פאַרפאַלעֶן", מעֶן קעֶן אַלעֶ מאָל פאַרִיכְטעֶן. אֲפִילוּ מִי שֶׁהָיָ' טָמֵא, מִי שֶׁהָיָ' בְּדֶרֶךְ רְחוֹקָה. אוּן אֲפִילוּ “לָכֶם", אַז דאָס אִיז געֶוועֶן בִּרְצוֹנוֹ, פוּנדעֶסטוועֶגעֶן קעֶן מעֶן מְתַקֵּן זַיין.

The message of Pesach Sheni1 is that “it’s never too late;2 one can always correct and make amends” — even one who was impure or was on a distant path.3 Indeed, even if he brought himself to such a state willingly,4 he can nevertheless correct it.5

Delving Deeply

The fact that the first Pesach comes in the month of Nissan and the second in the month of Iyar is significant. Nissan is the classic time of revelation initiated from Above. G‑d redeemed the Jews as they were — slaves in the depths of Egypt. Yet even though they were defiled, and the revelation was not internalized, their inner shortcomings did not impede their redemption.

By contrast, the month of Iyar, with the Counting of the Omer which is carried out throughout that month, characterizes a later stage of development. Now, we work to refine and cultivate ourselves. Hence the emphasis on correcting those situations that appear to be beyond repair.6