Table of Contents
📅 Today in Jewish History
📜 Pesach Sheni — A Historical Sketch
Pesach Sheni (“the Second Passover”) originates in the Torah as a unique legal and spiritual institution. One year after the Exodus, the Israelites were commanded to bring the Korban Pesach on the fourteenth of Nisan. However, a group of Israelites who had become ritually impure through contact with the dead found themselves unable to participate. They approached Moses and Aaron with the protest: “Why should we be deprived of bringing the offering of G‑d at its appointed time among the children of Israel?” (Numbers 9:6–7).
In response to their plea, G‑d established a new law: anyone who was impure or on a distant journey at the time of the first Passover was granted a second opportunity to bring the Korban Pesach exactly one month later, on the fourteenth of Iyar, in accordance with the same essential rules: roasted over fire, eaten with matzah and bitter herbs, and without breaking its bones (Numbers 9:9–14). This case is unique in the Torah: it is the only festival for which a divinely sanctioned make‑up date was instituted, underscoring the centrality of the Passover offering.
Halachic Framework in the Temple Period
During the Temple era, Pesach Sheni functioned as a full sacrificial rite, not merely symbolic observance. The Mishnah and Talmud clarify who qualified for it and how it differed from the first Passover. While the sacrificial procedure itself was largely identical, Pesach Sheni was more limited in scope: it was a one‑day offering and did not inaugurate a seven‑day Festival of Unleavened Bread, nor did it require the removal of chametz from the home, except that chametz could not be eaten together with the sacrifice (Mishnah Pesachim 9; Babylonian Talmud Pesachim 92b–96a).
Rabbinic discussion further defined what constituted a “distant journey” and emphasized that Pesach Sheni was not a leniency for negligence: one who deliberately failed to bring the first offering could not rely on the second. Rather, it existed for those unavoidably prevented from participating in the communal act of redemption.
📜 Pesach Sheni in the Days of King Chizkiyahu
A dramatic historical application of Pesach Sheni appears in the reign of King Chizkiyahu of Judah. Following years of neglect and ritual defilement under his father Ahaz, Chizkiyahu undertook to purify the Temple at the outset of his reign. This process was only completed after the fourteenth of Nisan. Consequently, Chizkiyahu, his officers, and the assembled people resolved to celebrate Passover in the second month, invoking the Torah’s provision of Pesach Sheni (II Divrei Hayamim 29–30).
According to Chronicles, emissaries were sent throughout Judah and the remnants of the northern tribes inviting them to Jerusalem. The celebration, held on the fourteenth of Iyar, was accompanied by great joy, abundant offerings, and communal repentance. The rejoicing did not end with the sacrificial day; it extended for many days, reflecting a national religious revival unprecedented since the days of Solomon.
This episode demonstrates that Pesach Sheni could serve not only as an individual remedy but also as a national instrument of unity and renewal.
📅 Today’s Yahrzeits
🕯️ Year 5357 (1597) — Passing of Rabbi Akiva ben Rabbi Yaakov of Frankfurt
🕯️Rabbi Mordechai, son of Rabbi Meir Broda of Pressburg
👤Their Background[1]
🕯️ Year 5357 (1597) — Passing of Rabbi Akiva ben Rabbi Yaakov of Frankfurt
Rabbi Akiva ben Rabbi Yaakov of Frankfurt, of blessed memory, passed away on this date. From his time onward, the establishment of charity funds (kupot tzedakah) became customary, to be used in every time of distress or hardship. It was taught that one should give charity for the elevation of his soul whenever trouble arises, and through this merit salvation would come.
From this practice developed the widespread custom that in cases of loss, difficulty, or when seeking success, it is beneficial to vow or give charity for the elevation of his soul. Over time, this custom became firmly rooted in Jewish practice.
In later years, some confusion arose and the practice was sometimes attributed instead to Rabbi Akiva “Ber” of Amsterdam. However, earlier letters attributed to that figure indicate that he too was a rabbi in Israel, and the matter requires further historical clarification as to whether the dates or names became confused over time. Nevertheless, reason dictates that the enduring merit belongs to Rabbi Akiva of Frankfurt, due to his role in establishing the network of charity funds throughout Frankfurt and its dependent communities.
It is in his merit that the broken‑hearted and distressed found relief, through giving charity for the elevation of his soul.
🕯️ Year 5580 (1820) — Passing of the holy Rabbi Shmuel of Karov
Rabbi Shmuel of Karov, of blessed memory, passed away in Ungvar. His life and teachings are recorded in the work “HaShevil Ve‑HaDerech”, authored by Rabbi Yechiel Yitzchak ben Shalom Ze’ev Granshtein.
[1] Please not that these historical notes were prepared with the assistance of Copilot Pro, an AI Research Agent, and have not been independently verified.
Today in Halacha
Pesach Sheini
1️⃣ Background of Pesach Sheini
- In the times of the Beis HaMikdash, anyone who could not bring the Korban Pesach on the 14th of Nissan—whether due to tumah (impurity) or being far from Yerushalayim—was required to bring it one month later, on the 14th of Iyar. • Because of this, it became customary to treat the day with a sense of simchah and light Yom Tov‑like recognition.
2️⃣ 🙏 Tachanun
- Tachanun (as well as Lamnatzeiach and Keil Erech Apayim) is omitted on Pesach Sheini, the 14th of Iyar. • It is recited at Mincha of the 13th, the day before. • If the 13th falls on Shabbos, then Tzidkascha is recited at Mincha. • Tachanun is also omitted in Krias Shema al HaMitah on the night of the 14th. 🌙 • There is a question whether Tachanun should be said on Motzei Pesach Sheini (night of the 15th). – However, on the day of the 15th, Tachanun is recited.
3️⃣ ⚰️ Funerals
- Hesped: One does not deliver a eulogy on any day when Tachanun is omitted—unless the deceased is a Torah Sage and the body is present. • Tziduk HaDin: Not recited on days without Tachanun (again, unless the deceased is a Torah Sage). • Erev Pesach Sheini: It is permitted to say Hesped and Tziduk HaDin even after midday.
4️⃣ 🚫 Fasting
- One should not fast on Pesach Sheini, as with any day when Tachanun is omitted. • This applies even if Bahab falls on this day. • Some Poskim allow fasting—especially when Bahab coincides with the 14th of Iyar.
5️⃣ 🍽️ Matzah
- It is customary to eat Matzah in honor of Pesach Sheini. • When to eat it? – Many eat Matzah on the day of the 14th. – Some eat it toward the afternoon. – Others eat Matzah on Motzei Pesach Sheini (night of the 15th). – Others eat on the night of the 14th. – The most meticulous eat Matzah all three times.
