B'Haloscho

Weekly Parsha Summary

Aaron is commanded to light the lamps of themenorah, and thetribe of Levi is initiated into the service in the Mishkan.

A “Second Pesach” is instituted in response to the petition “Why should we be deprived?” by a group of Jews who were unable to bring the Pesach offering in its appointed time because they were ritually impure. Hashem instructs Moshe on the procedures for Israel’sjourneys andencampments in the desert, and the people journey in formation from Mount Sinai, where they had been camped for nearly ayear.

The people aredissatisfied with their “bread from heaven” (the manna), and demand that Moshe supply them withmeat. Moshe appoints 70 elders, to whom heimparts of his spirit, to assist him in the burden of governing the people.Miriam speaks negatively of Moshe, and is punished with Tzaraas (leprosy); Moshe prays for her healing, and the entire communitywaits seven days for her recovery.

Rabbi's Shabbos Message

SECOND CHANCE

“’We are ritually unclean as result of contact with the dead,’ the men said to Moshe. ‘But why should we lose out and not be able to present G-d’s offering at the right time, along with the other Jews?’” (Bamidbar 9:7)

In this week’s parsha, the Torah gives over the laws of Pesach Sheni. If a person was too far away or was ritually unclean, then they were unable to bring the Korban Pesach (Pesach Offering) on Pesach itself. When this law was originally taught, several men
came to Moshe and complained: “Why should we lose out because we are currently ritually unclean? We also want to participate in this mitzvah!” Moshe brought this argument to Hashem and Hashem said that they were correct. For those who were unable to bring the Korban because of a situation out of their control; one month after Pesach, will be Pesach Sheni, and they will have the opportunity to bring the korban as if they did so on Pesach itself.

The Lekutei Halachos learns a very important lesson from here. A Jew, who is steeped in all sorts of sins, can cry out to Hashem say, “My soul is impure with my evil actions, but why should I lose out in becoming close to you?”

Pesach night itself is a night without comparison. The amount of holiness that flows down on that night alone is not comparable to any other night of the year. The spiritual power that a person can receive on Pesach night is not possible to receive on any other night. However, there is one exception. On Pesach Sheni. If a person was unable to bring his korban and brought his korban a month later, he will receive the same “spiritual nourishment”.

So too with teshuvah. The “main” time for teshuvah is Yom Kippur, however, it can be used throughout the year. When we are wallowing in sin, no matter how deep it might be, we ALWAYS have the ability to cry out “Why should I lose out!”, and through learning Torah and davening, Hashem will gladly pick us up and help us out. A person should never lose sight of that power that is in his hands.

Have a great Shabbos! 

Back to Archives