JUNE 11 • 2020 | 35

E

very year I am surprised 
and amazed when some-
thing from our tradition 
that we often overlook suddenly 
becomes incredibly important.
This year, it was the role 
of Pesach Sheni (“second 
Passover”) from this 
week’
s portion described 
in Numbers 9:1-14. 
Pesach Sheni was created 
because of the distress 
of the Israelite popula-
tion who were unable to 
perform and, therefore, 
celebrate the sacrifices 
associated with the hol-
iday of Passover. Their 
distress arose from the 
desire to participate in 
a required community 
act, a celebration of their deliv-
erance by God from Egypt. 
While our distress arises for 
different reasons, we, too, wish 
to gather and celebrate occa-
sions as expected.
Robert Alter writes, “The 
partaking in the Passover sacri-
fice is the primary act of affirm-
ing membership in the commu-
nity of Israel, and so the people 
in question are distressed that 
a mere accident, contact with a 
corpse ... should exclude them 
from the community.
”
Understandable that the 
people are upset and thought-
ful that our tradition found 
a way to include everyone in 
this important celebration. It 
became important this year, 
with the “stay home, stay safe” 
orders across the country. 
People were unable to cele-
brate Passover as they normally 
would. Though some then 
thought that by Pesach Sheni, a 
month later, they would be able 
to celebrate, this was also not 
the case; but the fact that our 
tradition recognizes that there 

are times when we cannot cele-
brate as we are expected to is an 
important lesson for all of us. 
The explanation of Pesach 
Sheni concludes with the fol-
lowing: “... there shall be one 
law for you, whether stranger 
or citizen of the country.
” 
(Numbers 9:14) Though 
directly related to who is 
responsible for participat-
ing in the Pesach offering 
and celebration, we read 
these lines today with a 
different understanding.
“One law” means that 
we must acknowledge 
that we live in a country 
with laws, laws which 
we are obligated to fol-
low. By participating in 
society, by following laws, we 
acknowledge that we care about 
those around us and not our-
selves alone. “Stay home, Stay 
Safe” was a difficult thing for 
many — impossible for those 
who are critical workers — and 
caused pain, too. It also saved 
the lives of more people than 
we know. 
As our country tries to get 
started again, we recognize that 
we must continue to work hard 
at keeping the vulnerable in 
our midst safe — that we have 
a responsibility to follow the 
directions of our government 
and the directions of our tradi-
tion, which includes requiring 
us to disregard a law that would 
cause harm to a person’
s life or 
health. 
May we all be safe; may we 
all be flexible; may we all give 
thanks for the ability to partici-
pate in community in whatever 
form that needs to take. 

Rabbi Simone Schicker is rabbi at 
Temple B’
nai Israel in Kalamazoo.

Parshat 

Bachaalotekha: 

Numbers 

8:1-12:16; 

a 2:14-4:7.

Rabbi Simone 
Schicker

35 | JUNE 11 • 2020 

Spirit
torah portion

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