In the Hebrew calendar, today is the 14th of Iyar. If this was bar trivia night at your local synagogue, you could earn major points if you knew the name of the holiday that takes place today. No, it’s not Tu Bishvat, Lag B’omer, or even Tisha B’av. And if you check the internet, you might not get a clear answer. But it is a holiday – the all-important day of…(drum roll)…Pesach Sheni – aka Second Passover. Don’t panic, you don’t need unpack the Pesahdik dishes or buy leftover boxes of matza on eBay (oyBay?). But both the origins and modern-day observances of Pesach Sheni are an important reminder that diversity and tolerance are at the core of our Jewish values.
The origins of Pesach Sheni go all the way back to a poignant story in the Torah. In Numbers chapter 9, as the first anniversary of the Exodus from Egypt was approaching, Moses gave the people instructions about how to celebrate Passover as an annual Festival of Freedom. The observance would feature a pascal sacrifice commemorating the lamb’s blood that one year earlier the enslaved Israelites put on their doorposts to keep away the Angel of Death. There was one problem – a group of families who had experienced a death and were not in a state of ritual purity sufficient to join in this newly-established national holiday. So Moses brought their concern to God—and God responded with compassion, creating Pesach Sheni – a second chance to observe Passover not only for those who were ritually impure, but also for others who missed out on the holiday, as when someone is traveling on a faraway journey during Passover.
In the past decade or so, this date has taken on new meaning, especially in Israel. Inspired by the spirit of flexibility shown in God’s response to the people’s need for a second chance to celebrate with their community, Pesach Sheni is now observed among some as Religious Tolerance Day. Specifically, those in the LGBTQ community have looked to this story as inspiration for how our community should embrace all of its members, even if their “journey” takes them far from conventional Orthodox assumptions about what it means to be Jewish. As the original text in Numbers asks, “Why should we be considered less worthy?” In true Reconstructionist fashion, this day continues to evolve. As a time for openness to our LGBTQ corelegionists. As a time to reflect on the role of women in Jewish life. As a call for second chances for those facing lengthy incarceration. As a call for inclusion for anyone who feels alienated or far from their spiritual home.
There is a tradition to eat matza on this day, as if to remind us that the work of liberation is not truly finished until all are free – free to be accepted and welcomed fully into the life of their communities.
Cantor Eric Schulmiller
