Clouds of Heaven

EMOR WEDNESDAY, MAY 10 14 IYAR, 5777

ב"ה לָמָּה נִגָּרַע לְבִלְתִּי הַקְרִיב אֶת קָרְבַּן ה' בְּמֹעֲדוֹ (במדבר ט, ז) WHY SHOULD WE BE DEPRIVED, THAT WE MAY NOT BRING THE OFFERING OF G-D IN ITS APPOINTED SEASON? (BAMIDBAR 9:7) Searching for Connection The mitzvah of Pesach Sheni, the second opportunity to offer the Pesach sacrifice, is somewhat of an anomaly among the other mitzvosof the Torah. All the other mitzvos are characterized by obedience; we dutifully follow whatever G-d instructs. Pesach Sheni, however, came about through the insistence of a few people who were restricted from offering the Pesach sacrifice in its proper time due to ritual impurity. They approached Moshe and begged not to be deprived of offering this sacrifice.  Seemingly, what basis was there for their request? If G-d had not communicated a desire that they bring the Pesach offering at a later occasion, they were obviously not obligated to do so! Yet, in response to their demand, G-d gave the Jewish people a new mitzvah—the observance of the Pesach Sheni. From here we learn that when a Jew senses that he is being deprived of an opportunity associated with Torah and mitzvos, he must not simply accept that G-d has not yet obligated him in this area. He must demand, "Why should I be deprived?" As the Talmud (Berachos 33b) declares, "Everything is in the hands of Heaven except the fear of Heaven." G-d waits for the individual to pursue a relationship with Him, but when a person demonstrates a genuine desire to connect with G-d through the Torah and mitzvos, G-d graciously grants him additional opportunities to find the connection he seeks. —Toras Menachem 5744, vol. 3, pp. 1679-1682