קרבן פסח

The punitive system of the Torah, never punishes for the non-observance of a positive commandment. It is only when one violates a negative commandment, is one punished. There are 248 positive commandments and 365 negative. There are 207 cases of lashes as well as transgressions involving the death penalty, or monetary compensation as a fine.

There are two exceptions to this rule, where the punishment of כרת, being cut off from the Jewish people, is given for not fulfilling a positive commandment. This applies to an adult male who does not perform the Mitzva of circumcision. It also applies to the annual obligation to offer the קרבן פסח, the one year old male lamb offered as the Passover sacrifice.

This obligation of eating at least the size of an olive’s worth of meat of the קרבן פסח was so important, that the Torah provided a make up date of פסח שני, one month later.

This meant that both men and women needed to be in Jerusalem for Pesach, to eat from this sacrifice. It also meant that by this time of year, if one was traveling and reached the ancient city of Modiin, and then saw a wandering lamb, he had to assume it was a lost קרבן פסח. This animal needed to be treated with the sanctity of קדשים, that which is designated as belonging to Hashem.

The real joy of the Pesach Seder at the time of the Beit Hamikdash, was partaking of this קרבן פסח. May that time come speedily in our time.