Behaalotcha 2023
Isaac’s Parsha Corner · 2023
A group of enthusiastic observant Jews who were “Tamey Mes” (defiled from contact with the dead) approached Moshe and Aaron and asked if they could participate in the Pesach sacrifice. Having just studied in last week’s Parsha about the sending out from the camps they understood that they were not going to be allowed into the holiest camp and would not therefor be eligible to offer a sacrifice. Moshe responded that they could not because they were “Tamey Mes,” and were ineligible to bring a sacrifice. Not to be put off, they responded that they would stay outside the holiest encampment and a Tahor (opposite of Tamey) person would perform all the ceremonies and even eat the sacrifice, their roll would be passive, they would own the animal and others would eat it on their behalf. This was a great question and Moshe asked God for direction. God was so impressed with these Jews and their question (especially their desire to included with all the other Jews) that He set forth an entirely new rule and holiday what we call Pesach Shenei. A second Passover. These Jews were eligible even required to maintain all the rules of Pesach Rishon, so they could not eat leavened bread instead eat Matzoh and refrain from work alongside their fellow Jews on Nissan 15, except for the Karban Pesach which they would bring exactly one month later (14th/15th of Iyar). The interesting thing about this group is that they were Tamey as a result of their having performed a special mitzvah. The Rabbi’s suggested that either they had been carrying Joseph’s coffin, or had ben tasked with the removal of Nadav and Avihu from the Mishkan or simply burying an unclaimed dead person. (A Mes Mitzvah.) This group was active in doing big Mitzvot and naturally did not want to be excluded from Karban Pesach!
God then extended Pesach Sheini to include someone who was out of town on Nisan 14/15. The actual Pasuk says “a person who is in a faraway path “Derech Rechokah” from you.” In modern parlance this person would be “off the Derech”, someone who is not on the Torah observant path. This person can be at the doorstep of the Beit Hamikdash yet refuses to enter, cannot find it himself to enter. The Torah has paired the most enthusiastic Torah observant Jew with the most disenfranchised Jew on Pesach Shenei. By putting the super committed Jews who are pushed to Pesach Sheini with those who have lost their way there is hope for both in the redemption experience that Pesach can deliver.
Shabbat Shalom