Beha’alotcha means “when you kindle”—referring to the kindling of the lamps of the Menorah in the Tabernacle.

In this Torah portion, Moses instructs the Children of Israel concerning when and how to offer the Passover offering. However, there were a group of Israelites who had been unable to bring the Passover offering at the appointed time in the month of Nissan due to ritual impurity (through no fault of their own). They came to Moses saying, “Why should we be deprived from offering God’s offering at the appointed time along with the Children of Israel?” (Num. 9:7).

Moses turned to God for an answer. God responded to their plea, saying that a “substitute Passover,” called Pesach Sheni (“Second Passover”), was to be observed on the 14th day of the following month—Iyar 14. Anyone who was impure or away on a journey and therefore unable to bring the Passover offering during its appointed time was given a second chance to bring the offering during Pesach Sheni.

The one-day holiday of Pesach Sheni is the only holiday whose purpose is to give a second chance to those who missed its initial observance.

Day 1 Matthew 14:14-21 Numbers 8:1-26

Day 2 Numbers 9:1-14

Day 3 Numbers 9:10-10:10

Day 4 Numbers 10:11-34

Day 5 Numbers 10:35-12:16