Pesach Sheni 2016
Pesach Sheni (the Second Passover) falls on the 14th of Iyar. In Temple times, anyone who was ritually impure or too distant to bring the Paschal lamb on the eve of the first Passover could offer it one month later and eat it with matzah and bitter herbs (Numbers 9). Tachanun is not said on this day, and some have the custom of eating a piece of matzah.
Halachic Framework
Pesach Sheni is a customary observance rather than a full festival: there are no work restrictions or special prayer obligations, and Tachanun is generally omitted for the day. The customs below developed through practice and are widely, though not universally, observed.
Customs & Observances
- Tachanun is omitted
- Some eat a piece of matzah in remembrance
- Learning the laws of the Second Paschal offering
About Pesach Sheni
Pesach Sheni (the Second Passover) falls on the 14th of Iyar. In Temple times, anyone who was ritually impure or too distant to bring the Paschal lamb on the eve of the first Passover could offer it one month later and eat it with matzah and bitter herbs (Numbers 9). Tachanun is not said on this day, and some have the custom of eating a piece of matzah.
Also known as: Second Passover
Jewish holidays begin at sunset on the evening before the date shown and conclude at nightfall (when three medium stars are visible) on the final day. In the Diaspora, major Torah festivals are observed for two days (Yom Tov Sheni shel Galuyot), while in Israel they are observed for one day.
Pesach Sheni in Upcoming Years
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2017 | May 10, 2017 |
| 2018 | April 29, 2018 |
| 2019 | May 19, 2019 |
| 2020 | May 8, 2020 |