Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this Aliyah, we learn about the unique mitzvah of Pesach Sheni, the Second Pesach. Hashem commands Moshe Rabbeinu in the Sinai desert, in the second year after leaving Mitzrayim, that Bnei Yisrael must bring the Korban Pesach in its proper time, on the fourteenth of Nissan. The Torah recounts how Bnei Yisrael kept this mitzvah exactly as Hashem commanded.

However, a special situation arose when certain individuals who were tamei (spiritually impure) from a corpse could not bring the korban on time. With great yiras Shamayim and a deep desire to fulfill the mitzvah, they approached Moshe and Aaron, asking why they should be left out. Moshe Rabbeinu tells them to wait while he hears the direct instructions from Hashem.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

וַיְדַבֵּרAnd spokeיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheבְמִדְבַּרin the wilderness ofסִינַיSinaiבַּשָּׁנָהin the yearהַשֵּׁנִיתthe secondלְצֵאתָםto their exodusמֵאֶרֶץfrom the land ofמִצְרַיִםMitzrayimבַּחֹדֶשׁin the monthהָרִאשׁוֹןthe firstלֵאמֹר׃saying

רַשִׁ״י

בחדשIn the monthהראשון.the firstפָּרָשָׁהThe sectionשֶׁבְּרֹאשׁwhich is at the head ofהַסֵּפֶרthe Bookלֹאwas notנֶאֶמְרָהspokenעַדuntilאִיָּר,Iyarלָמַדְתָּyou learnשֶׁאֵיןthat there is noסֵדֶרorder ofמֻקְדָּםearlierוּמְאֻחָרand laterבַּתּוֹרָה,in the TorahוְלָמָּהAnd whyלֹאdid it notפָתַחopenבְּזוֹ?with thisמִפְּנֵיbecauseשֶׁהִיאit isגְנוּתָןthe disgraceשֶׁלofיִשְׂרָאֵל,Yisraelשֶׁכָּלthat allאַרְבָּעִיםfortyשָׁנָהyearsשֶׁהָיוּthat they wereיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelבַּמִדְבָּרin the wildernessלֹאthey did notהִקְרִיבוּofferאֶלָּאexceptפֶּסַחthe Pesach sacrificeזוֹthisבִּלְבָדaloneספרי;SifreiתוספתאTosafotקידושיןKiddushinל"ח38b:

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וְיַעֲשׂוּAnd they shall makeבְנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelאֶת—הַפָּסַחthe Pesach offeringבְּמוֹעֲדוֹ׃in its appointed time

רַשִׁ״י

במועדו.At its appointed seasonאַףevenבְּשַׁבָּת,on Shabbosבְּמוֹעֲדוֹat its appointed season—אַףevenבְּטֻמְאָהin uncleannessספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

בְּאַרְבָּעָהon the fourteenthעָשָׂר·יוֹםdayבַּחֹדֶשׁof the monthהַזֶּהthisבֵּיןbetweenהָעֲרְבַּיִםthe eveningsתַּעֲשׂוּyou shall makeאֹתוֹitבְּמוֹעֲדוֹin its appointed timeכְּכָלaccording to allחֻקֹּתָיוits decreesוּכְכָלand according to allמִשְׁפָּטָיוits lawsתַּעֲשׂוּyou shall makeאֹתוֹ׃it

רַשִׁ״י

ככלAccording to allחקתיו.its statutesאֵלּוּthese areמִצְוֹתcommandmentsשֶׁבְּגוּפוֹthat are in its body—שֶֹהa lambתָמִיםunblemishedזָכָרa maleבֶּןson ofשָׁנָה:a year

רַשִׁ״י

וככלAnd according to allמשפטיו.its regulationsאֵלּוּthese areמִצְוֹתcommandmentsשֶׁעַלthat are uponגּוּפוֹits bodyמִמָּקוֹםfrom a placeאַחֵר,otherכְּגוֹןsuch asשִׁבְעַתsevenיָמִיםdaysלְמַצָּהfor matzahוּלְבִעוּרand for removal ofחָמֵץchometzמִצְוֹתcommandmentsשֶׁבְּגוּפוֹthat are in its body—שֶׂהa lambתָמִיםunblemishedזָכָרmaleבֶּןofשָׁנָה;a yearשֶׁעַלthat are uponגּוּפוֹits body—צְלִיroasted withאֵשׁfireרֹאשׁוֹits headעַלwithכְּרָעָיוits legsוְעַלand withקִרְבּוֹ;its innardsשֶׁחוּץthat are outsideלְגוּפוֹof its body—מַצָּהmatzahוּבִעוּרand removal ofחָמֵץchometz:

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וַיְדַבֵּרAnd spokeמֹשֶׁהMosheאֶלtoבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלַעֲשֹׂתto makeהַפָּסַח׃the Pesach offering

רַשִׁ״י

וידברAnd Moses spokeמשהMosesוגו'.etc.מַהwhatתַּ"ל?does the teaching sayוַהֲלֹאbut is it notנֶאֱמַרsaid"וַיְדַבֵּרAnd Moses declaredמֹשֶׁהMosesאֶת—מֹעֲדֵיthe appointed festivals ofה'",Hashemאֶלָּאratherכְּשֶׁשָּׁמַעwhen he heardפָּרָשַׁתthe section ofמוֹעֲדִיםthe festivalsמִסִּינַיfrom Sinaiאָמַרhe saidלָהֶם,to themוְחָזַרand he returnedוְהִזְהִירָםand exhorted themבִּשְׁעַתat the time ofמַעֲשֶׂהactionספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וַיַּעֲשׂוּAnd they madeאֶת—הַפֶּסַחthe Pesach offeringבָּרִאשׁוֹןin the firstבְּאַרְבָּעָהon the fourteenthעָשָׂר·יוֹםdayלַחֹדֶשׁof the monthבֵּיןbetweenהָעַרְבַּיִםthe eveningsבְּמִדְבַּרin the wilderness ofסִינָיSinaiכְּכֹלaccording to allאֲשֶׁרthatצִוָּהcommandedיְהוָהHashemאֶת—מֹשֶׁהMosheכֵּןsoעָשׂוּdidבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וַיְהִיAnd there wereאֲנָשִׁיםmenאֲשֶׁרwhoהָיוּwereטְמֵאִיםimpureלְנֶפֶשׁby the soul ofאָדָםa manוְלֹאand notיָכְלוּthey were ableלַעֲשֹׂתto makeהַפֶּסַחthe Pesach offeringבַּיּוֹםon the dayהַהוּאthatוַיִּקְרְבוּand they approachedלִפְנֵיbeforeמֹשֶׁהMosheוְלִפְנֵיand beforeאַהֲרֹןAharonבַּיּוֹםon the dayהַהוּא׃that

רַשִׁ״י

לפניBeforeמשהMosheולפניand beforeאהרן.Aharonכְּשֶׁשְּׁנֵיהֶןwhen both of themיוֹשְׁבִיןwere sittingבְּבֵיתin the House ofהַמִּדְרָשׁStudyבָּאוּthey cameוּשְׁאָלוּם,and asked themוְלֹאand notיִתָּכֵןis it possibleלוֹמַרto sayזֶהthis oneאַחַרafterזֶה,this oneשֶׁאִםfor ifמֹשֶׁהMosheלֹאnotהָיָהwasיוֹדֵעַknowingאַהֲרֹןAharonמִנַּיִןfrom whereלוֹto himספרי;SifreiבבאBavaבתראBatraקי"ט119:

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

וַיֹּאמְרוּAnd saidהָאֲנָשִׁיםthe menהָהֵמָּהthoseאֵלָיוto himאֲנַחְנוּweטְמֵאִיםare impureלְנֶפֶשׁby a soul ofאָדָםa manלָמָּהwhyנִגָּרַעshould we be diminishedלְבִלְתִּיfrom notהַקְרִבbringingאֶת—קָרְבַּןthe offering ofיְהוָהHashemבְּמֹעֲדוֹin its appointed timeבְּתוֹךְamongבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵל׃Yisrael

רַשִׁ״י

למהWhyנגרע.should we be diminishedאָמַרHe saidלָהֶםto themאֵיןnotקָדָשִׁיםsacred offeringsקְרֵבִיםare offeredבְּטֻמְאָה,in uncleannessאָמְרוּThey saidלוֹto himיִזָּרֵקlet be sprinkledהַדָּםthe bloodעָלֵינוּon our behalfבְכֹהֲנִיםby priestsטְהוֹרִיםwho are cleanוְיֵאָכֵלand let be eatenהַבָּשָֹרthe meatלִטְהוֹרִים,by clean onesאָמַרHe saidלָהֶםto them"עִמְדוּStandוְאֶשְׁמְעָה"and I will hear—כְּתַלְמִידlike a pupilהַמֻּבְטָחwho is confidentלִשְׁמֹעַto hearמִפִּיfrom the mouth ofרַבּוֹ;his teacherאַשְׁרֵיPraiseworthy isיְלוּדone born ofאִשָּׁהa womanשֶׁכָּךְwho thusמֻבְטָח,is confidentשֶׁכָּלthat anyזְמַןtimeשֶׁהָיָהthat he wasרוֹצֶהwishingהָיָהhe wasמְדַבֵּרspeakingעִםwithהַשְּׁכִינָה;the ShechinahוּרְאוּיָהAnd worthyהָיְתָהwasפָרָשָׁהparshaזוֹthisלֵאָמֵרto be saidעַ"יְbyמֹשֶׁהMosheכִּשְׁאָרlike the rest ofכָּלall ofהַתּוֹרָהthe Torahכֻּלָּה,entirelyאֶלָּאbutשֶׁזָּכוּthat meritedאֵלּוּthese menשֶׁתֵּאָמֵרthat it be saidעַלthroughיְדֵיהֶן,their agencyשֶׁמְּגַלְגְּלִיןfor they bring aboutזְכוּתmeritעַ"יְthroughזַכַּאיa meritorious personשםthere:

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd saidאֲלֵהֶםto themמֹשֶׁהMosheעִמְדוּstandוְאֶשְׁמְעָהand I will hearמַהwhatיְצַוֶּהwill commandיְהוָהHashemלָכֶם׃for you

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

וַיְדַבֵּרAnd spokeיְהוָהHashemאֶלtoמֹשֶׁהMosheלֵּאמֹר׃saying

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

דַּבֵּרSpeakאֶלtoבְּנֵיthe children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelלֵאמֹרsayingאִישׁanyאִישׁmanכִּיwhoיִהְיֶהwill beטָמֵאtameiלָנֶפֶשׁby a corpseאוֹorבְדֶרֶךְon a journeyרְחֹקָהdistantלָכֶםfor youאוֹorלְדֹרֹתֵיכֶםfor your generationsוְעָשָׂהand he wishes to makeפֶסַחa Pesach offeringלַיהוָה׃to Hashem

רַשִׁ״י

אוOrבדרךon a journeyרחקה.distantנָקוּדit is dottedעָלָיו,upon itלוֹמַר,to sayלֹאnotשֶׁרְחוֹקָהthat it is distantוַדַּאי,certainlyאֶלָּאbut ratherשֶׁהָיָהthat he wasחוּץoutsideלְאַסְקֻפַּתof the threshold ofהָעֲזָרָהthe Courtyardכָּלallזְמַןthe time ofשְׁחִיטָהthe slaughteringפסח'Pesachimצ"ג93;פֶּסַחThe PassoverשֵׁנִיSecondמַצָּהmatzahוְחָמֵץand chametzעִמּוֹare with himבַּבַּיִת,in the houseוְאֵיןand there is notשָׁםthereיוֹםa Yomטוֹב,Tovוְאֵיןand there is noאִסּוּרprohibition ofחָמֵץchametzאֶלָאexceptעִמּוֹwith itבַאֲכִילָתוֹduring its eatingשםthereצ"ה95:

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

בַּחֹדֶשׁIn the monthהַשֵּׁנִיthe secondבְּאַרְבָּעָהon the fourteenthעָשָׂר·יוֹםdayבֵּיןbetweenהָעַרְבַּיִםthe eveningsיַעֲשׂוּthey shall makeאֹתוֹitעַלwithמַצּוֹתmatzosוּמְרֹרִיםand bitter herbsיֹאכְלֻהוּ׃they shall eat it

פָּסוּק יב

Pasuk 12

לֹאnotיַשְׁאִירוּthey shall leave overמִמֶּנּוּfrom itעַדuntilבֹּקֶרmorningוְעֶצֶםand a boneלֹאnotיִשְׁבְּרוּthey shall breakבוֹin itכְּכָלaccording to allחֻקַּתthe statute ofהַפֶּסַחthe Pesach offeringיַעֲשׂוּthey shall makeאֹתוֹ׃it

פָּסוּק יג

Pasuk 13

וְהָאִישׁAnd the manאֲשֶׁרwhoהוּאheטָהוֹרis pureוּבְדֶרֶךְand on a journeyלֹאnotהָיָהwasוְחָדַלand refrainedלַעֲשׂוֹתfrom makingהַפֶּסַחthe Pesach offeringוְנִכְרְתָהand shall be cut offהַנֶּפֶשׁthe soulהַהִואthatמֵעַמֶּיהָfrom its peopleכִּיbecauseקָרְבַּןthe offering ofיְהוָהHashemלֹאnotהִקְרִיבhe brought nearבְּמֹעֲדוֹin its appointed timeחֶטְאוֹhis sinיִשָּׂאshall bearהָאִישׁthe manהַהוּא׃that

פָּסוּק יד

Pasuk 14

וְכִיAnd whenיָגוּרshall dwellאִתְּכֶםwith youגֵּרa convertוְעָשָׂהand he makesפֶסַחa Pesach offeringלַיהוָהto Hashemכְּחֻקַּתaccording to the statute ofהַפֶּסַחthe Pesach offeringוּכְמִשְׁפָּטוֹand according to its lawכֵּןsoיַעֲשֶׂהhe shall doחֻקָּהstatuteאַחַתoneיִהְיֶהthere shall beלָכֶםfor youוְלַגֵּרboth for the convertוּלְאֶזְרַחand for the nativeהָאָרֶץ׃of the land

רַשִׁ״י

וכיAnd whenיגורshall sojournאתכםwith youגרa strangerועשהand he will makeפסח.a Pesach offeringיָכוֹלone might thinkכָּלanyoneהַמִּתְגַּיֵּרwho convertsיַעֲשֶׂהshall makeפֶסַחa Pesach offeringמִיָּד,immediatelyתַּ"לthe Torah teaches"חֻקָּהstatuteאַחַת"oneוְגוֹ',etcאֶלָּאratherכָּךְthusמַשְׁמָעוֹis its meaning—"וְכִיand whenיָגוּרshall sojournאִתְּכֶםwith youגֵּר"a strangerוּבָאand he comesלַעֲשׂוֹתto makeפֶּסַחa Pesach offeringעִםwithחֲבֵרָיו,his fellows"כְּחֻקַּתaccording to the ordinance ofהַפֶּסַחthe Pesach offeringוּכְמִשְׁפָּטוֹand according to its ruleיַעֲשֶׂה"shall he doספריSifrei:

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

Hashem responds to Moshe by establishing the halachos of Pesach Sheni, a second chance for anyone who was tamei or on a distant journey during the first Pesach. This makeup offering is brought on the fourteenth of Iyar, eaten with matzah and maror, and carries the strict prohibitions against leaving any meat over or breaking a bone. The Torah warns that one who is tahor and fails to bring the Korban Pesach on time faces the severe punishment of kares, and concludes by emphasizing that the same halachos apply equally to the native-born Jew and the ger who joins the Jewish nation.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

My dear talmid, look at the incredible power of a single Yid's sincere desire to do a mitzvah. These men were tamei, completely exempt from bringing the Korban Pesach. By all accounts of strict law, they had a perfect excuse. Yet, their hearts burned with a holy jealousy. They cried out from the depths of their neshamah, "Lama nigara?"—Why should we be left out? Because of their raw, honest yearning, Hashem renewed the Torah itself and gave the entire Jewish nation the gift of Pesach Sheni.

This teaches us a profound lesson in our own avodah. Sometimes we find ourselves in a spiritual "desert," feeling distant, spiritually blocked, or weighed down by our past actions. The yetzer hara whispers that we are exempt from striving for greatness, that we are too far gone to connect. But the Torah is showing us that Hashem never closes the door on a Yid who truly wants to come close. If you genuinely cry out to Hashem that you want to do His will, He will open up a brand new path for you, even defying the natural order to make it happen.

Today, when you feel a barrier preventing you from learning, davening with kavanah, or performing a mitzvah with joy, do not just accept the limitation. Speak directly to Hashem from your heart and say, "Ribono shel Olam, I want to be close to You, why should I miss out?" Your sincere desire is itself a powerful vessel that can shatter any spiritual block.