The Lubavitcher Rebbe on Pesach Sheni

14 Iyar, 5744 · May 16, 1984 - The "Pesach Sheni" Korbon was offered as a restitution for the the Korbon Pesach, for someone who was ritually impure or too far away from the Beis Hamikdosh at the time of Pesach. But Jewish law rules that a non-Jew who converts to Judaism right after Passover, or a child who comes of age right after Pesach, must also bring a "Pesach Sheni" sacrifice, even though they were not obligated to bring a sacrifice on the first Pesach. The commentaries explain that the Korbon Pesach Sheni has two facets to it: On the one hand, it is "restitution"; on the other, it is a celebration in its own right.

There are two lessons taught by Peach Sheni. First, there is the famous adage of the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, that Pesach Sheni teaches us that "no situation is ever completely lost." But this is relevant only to someone who appears to be "lost." What about the person who hasn't "lost" anything at all, for he was never "obligated"? Pesach Sheni comes and teaches a second, new, concept: every Jew must continuously progress in G-d's ways. A Jew may never be satisfied with his present spiritual state, even if everything appears to be perfect. When a new month comes along, it demands that you reach a new spiritual level, even compared to what you attained last month, on Pesach.

From Living Torah Disc 88 Program 34