Several weeks ago, I took delivery of my new Honda Goldwing motorcycle in Tennessee. I drove it 750 miles to Florida where I enjoyed it over Pesach. This touring bike had all the latest technology, including a GPS system displayed on the dashboard. While driving down the highway I noted two things about the GPS system. First, as long as I was on the right path and proper direction, I heard no feedback. It stayed quiet in the background. Second, if I deviated off-course and went to a gas station or rest stop off the highway it would always say “recalculating.” No matter how often I might have gone astray, the route was being recalculated so that it made sure I always ended up where I was supposed to be.
This past Sunday we commemorated the minor Yom Tov holiday of Pesach Sheini, or “the second Passover.” In the time of the Exodus there were some people who were ritually impure. They may have been handling or transporting Joseph’s bones, for example, and did not have the chance to wait seven days to become ritually tahor, or pure, again. There were also a second category of people described as being off the derech, being far away “on a road that was distant to reach” (Bamidbar 9:9). The Torah actually prescribed a remedy where these people were able to celebrate Pesach a month later. In effect, they were given a second chance.
The previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, R’ Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, found a novel meaning in the words about being far away “on a road that was distant to reach.” He explained that this also referred to Jews who had deviated from the proper path of Torah, those who we now refer to as being “off the derech.” His point was that even those individuals could be given a second chance. There was hope for them too.
When we think about it, few of us are 100 percent pure, without some sin or character flaw in our background. All too often there are those who transgress here and there and feel initial pangs of guilt. They may then think to themselves, “Heck, if I texted on Shabbos, or I ate in a non-kosher restaurant or engaged in some other inappropriate behavior I might as well go all the way.” Is there hope of forgiveness by Hashem? Is there any way back? The Torah answers these questions, teaching us a profound lesson by giving us this second Passover. In effect, it is teaching us that nothing is ever lost. God always gives us a second chance.
Thinking about my motorcycle GPS system I realized that life sometimes plays out in a similar manner. We may not always hear from Hashem when things are going the way they are meant to be. There may be no feeling of feedback. It may seem silent. However, just like the GPS system, this may indicate that all is well. We are heading in the proper direction. There is still Divine oversight in our lives. Similarly, no matter how many times we deviate from the proper path, no matter how often we go off-course and go astray, there are Heavenly forces that are always “recalculating” our route through life. We inevitably end up where we are supposed to be.
We also need to learn that if Hashem can forgive slights and give people second chances, surely we as His people can do the same. How many of us may have been emotionally hurt by a parent who wasn’t there for us growing up or a sibling who teased us endlessly as a child, or a friend who disappointed us years ago? We may be holding grudges for decades but cannot recall exactly what the original incident was. Perhaps when we think about Pesach Sheini we should take heart to recall that we have a God of second chances. We should also remember to emulate His ways and let go of our resentments and anger as well.
May we take inspiration from this holiday and realize that throughout life we should never despair and feel as if we have lost opportunities forever. Just as we have a “Pesach Sheini” holiday, so too Hashem will always give us a second chance.
By Rabbi Dr. Avi Kuperberg
Rabbi Dr. Avi Kuperberg is a forensic clinical psychologist. He is also the president of the Chai Riders Motorcycle Club of NY/NJ. He leads the Summit Avenue Shabbos Gemara shiur and minyan in Fair Lawn, New Jersey. He can be contacted at [email protected].
