What is "Pesach Sheni"?

 Pesach (Passover) may be the most widely observed holiday on the Jewish calendar. Families who are only nominally observant most of the year will gather for a Passover seder in some fashion or another. Even during the pandemic 0f 2020 - 2021, families found some way to gather for Passover. The term "Zoom Seder" entered the Jewish-American dictionary! However very few Jews have even heard of Pesach Sheni. What is this "hidden holiday" and how is it observed?

What is Pesach Sheni?

Pesach Sheni literally translates as "Second Passover (Sacrifice)". It marks the day when anyone who was unable to present the Passover sacrifice at the correct time could offer it on this date, exactly on month later. A year after leaving Egypt, God "reminded" the people of Israel that they were to commemorate the Passover by roasting the Passover lamb and eating the meat with matzah and bitter herbs. Some people were unable to make the Pesach offering because they had become ritually impure. They came to Moses and Aaron asking "Why should we be deprived of the opportunity to present God's sacrifice?" God gave them a solution to their dilemma. Anyone who was unable to present the sacrifice at the appointed time could offer it on the 14th of Iyar - exactly one month later - on the "Second Passover" (Pesach Sheni). (You can read the full story in the Tanach: Numbers 9: 1-23)

How is Pesach Sheni observed?

If you think you are going to have to go through all the requirements of Passover a second time, you can relax! In most communities there are only two simple traditions that are observed. Matzah is customarily eaten on this day. This would be a good time to finish off that box of shmurah matzah you bought for seder. Tachanun prayers are omitted from services on Pesach Sheni.

What  is the meaning of this holiday for us?

Pesach Sheni reminds us that there is always a "second chance." God never wants us left behind even if we have forgotten the right thing to do or have lost our way trying to become better people. Teshuvah is always possible. We can always repent and "return" to the right path. To quote Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak of Lubavitch, "The Second Passover means that it's never a 'lost cause!'"

Related links:

What is Pesach Sheni?

The Holiday of Second Chances 

Dates for Pesach Sheni (Hebcal)

Passover Basics

 Passover (Pesach) is a beloved holiday. Many families who observe few other Jewish holidays make a special effort to celebrate Passover. Preparing for the holiday is a long process but the rewards of spending eight days celebrating he Festival of Freedom make all the hard work more than worth the effort!

Here is a brief list of what you will need to do in order to be ready for the celebration.

Get the Leaven out!

The Torah forbids Jews to eat or even possess any products containing leavened grain (hametz). So the first step is to remove all leaven from your house. Bread and pasta are obvious no-nos but many other products contain leaven as well. Check with your rabbi if you are unsure what to keep and what to remove. Tossing all that food can be a financial burden. To make thing less costly, you are permitted to "sell" your hametz to a non-Jew for the duration of Pesach and "buy it back" after the holiday is over. Check with your rabbi regarding the proper procedure for selling hametz

Keep it Clean

Thought you were done when you sold your hametz? Not just yet! In order to make sure there is no hametz hiding anywhere, it is necessary to give your house a thorough cleaning. Think Spring Cleaning. As a matter of fact, this is where the tradition of Spring Housecleaning came from. 

 

 Time to Go Shopping

 Feasting is an important part of the Passover Celebration! You will need purchase enough food that is certified Kosher for Passover to last eight days. If your check the Kosher Certification mark (heksher) you will see either a "P" or the words "Kosher for Passover" added to the heksher. Raw fruits and vegetables are automatically Kosher for Passover. Be sure to have plenty of both on hand to aid in digestion. If you are hosting the seder, you will also meed to make sure you have the ritual foods for the seder plate. You will want plenty of matza. Many families like to have shemura matza on hand especially for the seder. This is a special matza that has had strict supervision from the time the grain was planted until the time it is shipped from the bakery.

 Passover Pots and Dishes

You're almost ready! You need to replace your regular pots, pans dishes and utensils with others that a reserved strictly for use during Passover. If  this is your first Passover, you might be suffering from "sticker shock" about now. Here's another idea to save some cash: Purchase the pots, pans, and necessary cooking utensils this year. Use disposable plates and flatware for serving and eating. You might find some specially decorated paper plates with Passover designs on them that will make seder night a little more special.

There is a lot more to learn about Passover but hopefully this post will give you a good start. Now..."Go forth and Learn!" Above all enjoy the holiday. Chag Kasher v'Sameach!

 

Related links:

 Passover 101

 What is a Seder?

Insights for a Meaningful Passover (Video) 

Helpful Hints for "Rookie" Passover Hosts

With the arrival of Coronavirus, most of us will be having our sederim alone at home. For more than a few of you, my readers, your will be planning and conducting your very first seder. Congratulations! Seriously, I want you to think of this as an important milestone in your Jewish growth and development.

No doubt it is a challenging task. Given that probably most of us are under "Stay at Home" orders, it may seem overwhelming. There are a lot of things to remember and many preparations to make before the day arrives. Here are a few suggestions from someone who has done quite a few seders (and made his share of mistakes!).

Preparing for a seder involves basically two major responsibilities: (1) Leading the seder ceremony and discussion and (2) Planning the menu, buying necessities for the rituals, etc. First suggestion do not try to do it all alone! I usually handled Part 1 - what I call "the service." My wife took care of the other arrangements - which she referred to as "the meal." Let's look  at the preparations for each part separately.

Getting comfortable with the Haggadah

First get acquainted with your Haggadah. Start by reviewing the table of contents. In this way you will learn how the service "flows:" what comes first, what comes next, etc. Quickly read through the text of the service. Practice the rituals (kiddush,hand washing, karpas, matza, korech). Look carefully at the text of the magid (story). The story itself if very brief - only about two paragraphs. The rest of the text is commentary. While the commentary is very useful and enlightening, resist the temptation just to read the book out loud. write down whatever questions come to your mind as you read through the Haggadah. Use these to generate discussion as you go through the magid.

Most important of all, make it enjoyable! Learn and sing the familiar Passover songs, especially Dayenu. I you have any recorded Passover music, use that to help learn the tunes. If you have young children at your seder, think of ways to make the experience fun for them. Games, pictures, and other "tools" can make the night more meaningful for them and help things go more smoothly.

Let's eat!

The meal should be festive but not stressful. Chose your favorite dishes that are kosher for Passover. Make enough so that everyone can eat as much as they want but not enough to feed the whole neighborhood! For the seder plate you will need a roasted egg, a green vegetable, horseradish, charoset, and a roasted bone. You will also need wine and/or grape juice (enough for four cups for everyone present). There are many recipes for Passover dishes, some of which a rather simple. Try to keep the menu tasty and interesting.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes

Our first family seder was not exactly done according to the book. We had a festive meal, drank wine, ate matzah and read the book of Exodus from our family Bible. That's it! It couldn't have been less traditional. A rabbi who we knew well told us that since we had done the best that we knew how to do the seder was kosher. He then advised us, "Go forth and Learn." That was very sage advice. Don't be afraid of mistakes, but learn from them. Check out the links below for more ideas.

I wish all of you, my readers, a happy, safe and healthy Passover. Chag sameach!

 Related links:
Passover and Corona
Making Passover Fun
Passover Basics
Passover Recipes

Some More Questions for Passover

Pesach (Passover) is all about questions. Here are some questions you may not have thought about before. You have eight days of Passover. See how many answers you can find before the Holiday ends. As always, your friendly neighborhood rabbi is your best source. You can also check out the resources below. There are other reliable sources of information.


1. This year the second seder occurs in Saturday night. Why and how do we  recite Havdallah when Shabbat ends and the second day of Passover begins?

2. Why is there no blessing when we wash our hands the first time (urchatz) during seder?

3. The number four is featured prominently in the Haggadah: four cups of win, four sons, four questions, etc. Why the number four?

4. The Passover Kiddush refers to the holiday as "the Festival of Matzot." Why does it not call the holiday "Passover?"

5. The seder must be held at night. Why are Nishmat and other prayers associated with the morning service added to the Hallel?

6. The seder must be concluded by midnight. Yet we read in the Haggadah that the sages of Bnei Brak discussed the Exodus until after dawn. What is the explanation for what seems to be a contradiction?

Have fun discussing, learning and celebrating freedom! From our family to yours, a zissen Pesach!

Related links:
Passover 101
Everything You Wanted to Know about Passover
What is Passover?
Passover: History and Overview

From Small to Greatness

As we begin our Passover preparations, we turn our thoughts once again to understanding more fully the meaning not only of the holiday itself, but the great lessons that Pesach teaches us in the Twenty-first Century CE. So I share a thought provoking article written by my son and collaborator, Dovid. I hope it will inspire you to explore again the challenge of freedom.

From Small to Greatness

The Haggadah reminds us, "With a small number of people..." Just seventy individuals went down to Egypt but when we went to conquer Eretz Yisrael, we were "as numerous as the stars in the heavens."

It is interesting to note that with seventy we slid to our lowest depths. But with seventy-one, we changed the course of Jewish living.

Once we left Egypt and started to deal with the real problems any community faces, it became clear that even our greatest leader had to raise the bar. Moshe Rabeinu added seventy leaders to his one to create a group who both guides and speaks for the entire Jewish people.

From these seventy-one we learned how to live Hashem's Torah in a world that saw the Egyptians continuously in its rear-view mirror. In the course of that learning we gained the confidence we as a people needed to conquer the land Hashem promised and build the House that made us grow in wisdom and number.

It may be written as an obligation to "consider himself as if he had left Egypt" and so many more rules to this Passover thing. But this all starts and is maintained with just one: "And you shall tell your child in that day, 'It is because of this that Hashem did for me when I left Egypt.'"

"In every generation," especially this one that is on the cusp of our ultimate liberation, we face ever-increasing challenges to stay "as numerous" and as bright "as the stars." We must focus every energy of every day like it is "the day you came out of Egypt." In this waywe guarantee our numbers and the potency of our light.

-- Dovid J. Aston

Award-winning Editor, Journalist and Author

Related links:

"Season of Our Freedom"

"5 Most Important Things to Know about Passover"

"What is an Omer?"

When I first started to observe Passover, one of my first questions was, "What is an omer and why do we count it?" Usually the answer was, "We have to count the days between Passover and Shavuot. That's called 'Counting the Omer'." While that is a true answer, it doesn't give much of an explanation! So over the years I have learned a few things about this mysterious thing called "the Omer" and I thought I might share some of what I learned with you.

What is an "Omer"?

An "omer" is a unit of measure, specifically a measure of grain.When the Temple was still standing (may it be rebuilt soon!) an omer of wheat was cut down and brought to the Temple as an offering. That offering became known as "the Omer". The Omer was brought on the second day of Pesach.

What is the "Counting of the Omer"?

The Torah requires us to count the days between Pesach and Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks). This counting begins on the second night of Pesach - the very same day when the Omer offering was brought to the Temple. The "countdown" from Pesach to Shavuot became known an "the Counting of the Omer".

Why do we "Count the Omer" today? Can't I just look at a calendar to find the date of Shavuot?

The Counting of the Omer is more than just a  method of telling time! As we Count the Omer each day, we are reminded of the connection between our liberation on Passover and the receiving of the Torah on Shavuot. G-d did not free us from bondage so we could wander forever! He freed us so that we could serve Him and be a "light unto the gentiles". Therefore He gave us the Torah. If we had been set free to no purpose, we would have become a sad footnote to history. Instead we are people chosen for a purpose: to show the nations that a world of righteousness and peace is possible. Learning and living Torah is how we can change the world for the better!

Lag BaOmer bonfire in Israel.

What is "Lag Ba'Omer"?

During the time of the great sage Rabbi Akiva, the Omer period was not a very happy time. A plague broke out and sadly many of his students died. So today during this period we remember them by reducing our celebrations: no weddings, parties, or dances. Some people even postpone haircuts. Except on the thirty third day of the Counting of the Omer. On that day the plague broke. So we celebrate accordingly! Many families and communities have a picnic on that day. In larger Jewish communities, there are even parades and other community events. ("Lag" isn't really a word. In Hebrew letters have numerical value, in much the same way Roman numerals do. The letters that spell "Lag" total the number 33. So Lag Ba'Omer means "the 33 day of the Omer.")

As you count the Omer this year, remember that our wanderings were not aimless. We came to Sinai and received our precious Torah. May we all take this time to recommit ourselves to studying and living Torah each day.

Related links:

The Counting of the Omer

"ABCs of the Omer" (Aish.com)

Counting the Omer (USCJ)

The Counting of the Omer (URJ)

6 Things You Can Do on the Other 6 Days

Greetings Followers, Readers, and Friends!


I hope you all experienced memorable sederim. We still have almost a week of Passover left. No more seder. Here are some ideas of things to do during the remaining days. Get creative! Come up with unique, personal celebrations, no matter how simple. Celebrate our freedom from Mitzrayim!

1. Take a 40-minute walk.

To commemorate the 40-year trek from slavery to freedom, take a 40-minute walk around your neighborhood. Take some matzah with you and a Kosher-for-Passover drink. It is a wonderful time to reflect upon the meaning of freedom, on how we need to depend on Hashem for everything. G-d provided for our ancestors needs in the midbar but they still had the responsibility of collecting the food and water that appeared so miraculously! 

2. Discover a new Passover recipe.

Instead of complaining about "tasteless Passover food," why not search for a new Passover recipe that sounds delicious and try it out. There are many websites that offer kitchen tested recipes, including many grocery store and supermarket websites. 

3. Give extra Tzedakah.

There are many people at this season who need help. Some are in financial distress. Some are lonely. Some are ill or are caring for loved ones who are ill. Some have a need and desire to learn Torah but don't know where or how to begin. Donate a little extra to help the people whom you cannot help personally.

4. Light an extra Shabbos candle.

Light an extra candle on Friday night. Too many of our fellow Jews have become victims of violence this year. Their lights have gone out in this world, but we can increase the light by lighting an extra candle in remembrance of them.

5. Attend a Yom Tov service.

It may seem surprising to you, but many synagogues have trouble insuring a minyan for services on the last two days of Passover. If you are one of those who hasn't attended services, why not start a new tradition?

6. Study Torah.

Yes, I know. We do this every day. Or at least we should be doing it every day! Give a little extra time to Torah Study this week. Try to learn something new, something that you had not known or thought about. Make a commitment to put Torah and mitzvot at the top of you "To Do" list every day.

I am sure that there are many other ways to add to the enjoyment of this wonderful week. I hope that you are inspired to think of new ways to celebrate. May you all enjoy a sweet, memorable, kosher Pesach!

Related Links:

A collection of Passover Recipes

Traditional Chol Hamoed Observance*

  *Check with your local synagogue for observances in your community.

5 Ideas to Make Passover Easier

For some reason many of my friends just do not like Passover. I will grant you that Pesach requires a lot of preparation, but with a little planning it can be one of the highlights of your Jewish year. Here are five simple suggestions to make your Passover celebration a little easier and much more enjoyable.

1. Eat more fruits and vegetables

Most people I know miss this one. Eating all unleavened products reduces the amount of fiber in the diet. To make the week more, shall I say, comfortable you have to increase fiber from other sources. Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables will solve the problem. My family eats better during Pesach than any other time of the year!

Fresh fruits & vegetables do not require kosher certification.

2. Enjoy the whole eight days of Passover

Plan lots of family time. Visit relatives that you haven't seen for a while. Play Passover games with your children. Accept an invitation to seder or Shabbos dinner. On the intermediate days, play holiday songs instead of the usual secular fare. Plan on having fun! Make the week specia!!

3. Learn something new

There are classes, books, CDs, on line resources and many other opportunities to find out more about Passover. Find out about different customs that other families may have. Find a new recipe. Learn a new tune to a familiar Pesach song of prayer. Variety and tradition work together to make the holiday interesting and enjoyable.

What's on your seder plate?

4. Relax

I cannot count the number of people I know who stress over Passover. The cleaning, removing the chometz, the menu, the seder, who to invite... Of course there is a lot to do. Try to take life - including Passover - in stride. Have your children, spouse, or friends help with the preparations. Sharing the responsibilities not only reduces stress but strengthens relationships as well.

5. Plan ahead

After the holiday make a note of what you and your family enjoyed most. Be sure to include these things in you planning for next year. Also note what didn't work. As the year passes be "on the look out" for ways to improve the things that weren't so enjoyable. Make a list of what needs to be done and set dates to work on this list. By organizing yourself  ahead of time you will be free to enjoy the holiday.

With only a little effort and planning you will find, as I have, that Passover is an enjoyable, meaningful, happy time for everyone. Check the links below to start finding something new to add to your celebration. From our family to yours, Hag kasher v'sameach! A happy and kosher Pesach!

Related Links:
Passover Recipes (A wonderful variety!)
"Making Your Seder Memorable" (My Jewish Learning)
Passover Games and Crafts for Kids (Kosher4Passsover)
Passover Song for the Family (You Tube)
Passover Seder Music (traditional)

Dayenu: A Passover Lesson

Without a doubt, Passover is my favorite holiday. Pesach requires a great deal of preparation and I suppose that is one reason why so many of my Jewish friends don't like this holiday. But I love preparing for the Seder, sharing the message of freedom with friends and family, and watching the excitement glowing in my children's eyes. The festive meal, the energetic singing, and the sheer joy of the day make Passover the highlight of the year for me.

Almost fifteen years ago I faced a great challenge in preparing for Seder that year. My youngest was only a toddler. She was born with Down's Syndrome, a chromosomal disorder. Among other challenges that she faces is the reality that she is mentally retarded. I wanted very badly to make sure that she was able to learn and enjoy all the richness of Judaism for herself. How was I to "diligently teach" a child whose ability to learn might be severely restricted? She had not even spoken her first word yet! We had involved her in every Jewish observance since the day she came home from the hospital as an infant, but I had no idea if she had retained anything from these experiences.

As I often do when confronted with a dilemma I cannot solve, I consulted a trusted rabbi. His response was illuminating.

"The Torah doesn't tell us to make our children into little rabbis. It simply commands us to teach them diligently. If you teach, she will learn!"

With renewed confidence I prepared to teach on Seder night. My little student sat silently at the end of the table. Was she following anything I was saying? I could not tell. Then we arrived at that magical moment when we recite the wonders that Hashem has done for us, and declare Dayenu, "it is enough for us."

To the great amazement of us all, my daughter joined in singing, "Day..dayenu, dayenu dayenu!" She sang her first word...a Hebrew word...Dayenu! 

If she had only clapped her hands, it would have been enough! If she had sung some unintelligible babble, Dayenu! But she sang "Dayenu" in perfect Hebrew

Today my daughter chants the candle lighting blessings on Shabbos and Yom Tov. She literally runs to kiss the Torah scroll in synagogue. She sings heartily the Hebrew songs that she has learned. And she lives a truly Jewish life. How much more we bless Hashem for all the multiple blessing she has given us! Dayenu!

As you prepare for Passover, my family joins me in wishing for you and those you love the Passover Joy that we have. Dayenu!

Related Links:
Pesach - Torah Tots
Games and Tips for the Seder
Passover for Kids - Tzivos Hashem Kids