Let’s begin where the parsha begins:

“וידבר ה’ אל משה בהר סיני לאמר…”

“And Hashem spoke to Moshe on Mount Sinai, saying…”

Rashi immediately asks: Why does the Torah specify Har Sinai in this context? Isn’t the entire Torah from Sinai? What’s the Torah trying to emphasize by attaching these particular laws—Shemitah, the sabbatical year—to the mountain?

And that’s our first clue: we’re not just being given agricultural guidelines. We’re being invited to climb back to the mountain.

As we return
to it today, let’s dedicate our learning—לרפואת יצחק בן מרגלית, and לעילוי
נשמת ניסים בן סלחה, the father of our dear friend Jessica. May the light of
Torah we uncover today bring healing, elevation, and connection.

Pesach Sheni is the holiday of second chances.

Lamah nigara? Why should we be left behind?

Amalek attacked us on Pesach Sheni. And when you
hear that, it’s like — whoa.

Of all the days Amalek could choose to attack… He chooses
the day that screams, “It’s never too late.”

Amalek stands for doubt.

The Torah hints at it: the word “Amalek” shares the same gematria as safek — doubt.

He’s the voice that whispers,

“You missed your shot.”

“You’re not worthy.”

“You can’t fix it.”

When Amalek attacks, Moshe goes up on a hill. And what does he do?

He raises his hands.

And the Torah says: “When Moshe’s hands were raised, Israel prevailed. And when he lowered them, Amalek prevailed.”

Now the Mishnah in Rosh Hashanah asks the obvious question:

Was it Moshe’s hands that won the war?

And the answer? No.

It was when the people looked up — when they lifted their hearts to Hashem — that’s when they had strength.

Moshe’s hands were a signal. A reminder. Look up.
Don’t fall into despair. This battle isn’t yours alone.

So what is Pesach Sheni really?

Perhaps it’s the most anti-Amalek day in the whole Torah.

Because Amalek says: “You’re done.”

And Pesach Sheni says: “You’ve just begun.”

Amalek says: “You missed it.”

Pesach Sheni says: “Come back in.”

Amalek tells you: “You’ll never get out of this.”

And Pesach Sheni says: “There’s always a second chance.”

And that’s how we fight Amalek. With emunah. With second chances. With lifted hands — and lifted hearts.