Israel Forever

For the week ending 9 May 2009 / 14 Iyyar 5769

Second Chance

by Rabbi Mendel Weinbach zt'l
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"Why should we be left out?"

This was the heartfelt cry of Jews who were informed that they could not participate in the first offering of a Korban Pesach following the Exodus and the receiving of the Torah because of their spiritual impurity caused by contact with the dead.

This scene is recalled each year on the 14th day of the Month of Iyar, which occurs this year on Erev Shabbat Parshat Emor. This was the day 3320 years ago when those Jews were given a second chance to offer the sacrifice that was forever called Pesach Sheini (a second Paschal sacrifice).

The lesson to be learned from this is that if a Jew feels so strongly the need to be a part of his people in serving G-d with a sacrifice, the opportunity will be Providentially provided for him just as Heaven gave those left-out Jews a second chance.

In an age when so many Jews in Israel and throughout the world feel "left out" of the religious way of life practiced in previous generations and perpetuated by the observant public today, it is hoped that the lack of any foreseeable solution to the problems faced by Israel will motivate all Jews to call upon Heaven for a second chance to return to their roots and secure Israel forever.

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