Torah from Rabbi Saunders

In Parshat Beha’alotcha, we encounter one of the most beautiful and heartfelt moments in the Torah, one that reveals not just the laws of Hashem, but the deep relationship between the Jewish people and the Torah itself.

A group of men approaches Moshe, distressed. They had become ritually impure through contact with a corpse and were unable to bring the Korban Pesach, the Passover offering. But instead of resigning themselves to exclusion, they cry out,

“Why should we be left out?”
(Lama nigara – Bamidbar 9:7)

Their plea wasn’t just about missing a ritual. It came from a deep longing, a burning love for the mitzvot and the relationship with Hashem that those mitzvot represent.

And what happens next is astonishing.

Moshe doesn’t dismiss them. He doesn’t say, “Rules are rules.” Instead, he turns to Hashem, and a brand-new mitzvah is born, Pesach Sheni, the Second Passover. An entire opportunity created by the heartfelt desire of Jews who simply didn’t want to be left out of their connection to God. The Torah Listens to Our Longing

This episode teaches us something profoundly uplifting. The Torah is not a cold, static document. It’s alive. It responds to our hearts. When we approach it with sincerity, with love, with yearning, it opens up to us. The men who asked for Pesach Sheni weren’t great rabbis or prophets. They were simple people who felt a deep connection to the mitzvot, and that love moved Heaven.

Their story reminds us, if you want to connect to Torah, you can. Always.

Pesach Sheni is the Torah's way of saying, It’s never too late, you’re never too far. Even if we missed the opportunity the first time, even if we feel spiritually impure or unworthy, the Torah invites us back. Hashem doesn't just tolerate return, He welcomes it, creates space for it, and cherishes it. This is not a system of cold laws. This is a relationship. A love story. Our Turn to Say, “Why Should I Miss Out?” Every one of us can say those same words, “Lama nigara, Why should I be left out?” Why should I miss out on the joy of learning Torah?
Why should I miss out on the beauty of Shabbat, of mitzvot, of connection?
Why should I be distant when the Torah is waiting for me? No matter where we are in our journey, the Torah is waiting, with a second chance, a third chance, or a thousandth. All it asks is that we care enough to say, “I want in.”

And that’s exactly the spirit of the Delray Torah Center. It’s a place where second chances are real, where people of all ages and backgrounds are welcomed into the world of Torah, where no one is ever too far or too late to begin again. Whether it's your first step or your return journey, the doors are open and the Torah is waiting for you.

The story of Pesach Sheni is more than a halachic footnote. It’s a reminder that our love for the Torah can change everything. When we approach Torah with longing, sincerity, and a whole heart, we awaken new light, new paths, and new opportunities. Because the Torah isn’t just something we learn,
It’s something that loves us back.