• The relationship of pesach sheini to pesach rishon

It was taught in a Baraisa that Rebbe holds, חייב כרת על הראשון וחייב כרת על השני - that one is chayav kares for deliberately failing to bring the first pesach and one is chayav kares for deliberating failing to bring a pesach sheini. Rebbe maintains that each of the two pesachs is an independent chiyuv and carries a kares penalty. Rebbe Nassan says one is only chayav kares for deliberately failing to bring the first pesach. Rashi explains that Rebbe Nassan maintains that the second pesach is merely a substitute for the first pesach and therefore does not carry the kares penalty in its own right. Therefore, if he failed to bring the first pesach beshogegg and he deliberately failed to bring a pesach sheini, he is not chayav. Rebbe Chananya ben Akavya says he is not chayav kares even for the first pesach unless he deliberately did not offer the pesach sheini either. Rashi explains that he holds that the pesach sheini rectifies one’s failure to bring the first pesach, and therefore, the kares violation is not in effect completed until, and unless, he deliberately fails to bring the pesach sheini too.

• A ger that converted and a minor that matured between pesach rishon and pesach sheini

The Gemara elaborates on the views of Rebbe and Rebbe Nassan. It was taught in a Baraisa, גר שנתגייר בין שני פסחים – A ger who converted between the two pesachs, וכן קטן שהגדיל בין שני פסחים – or a minor who reached maturity between the two pesachs, which Rashi clarifies that he sprouted pubic hairs, חייב לעשות פסח שני – are chayav to bring a pesach sheini. These are the words of Rebbe. Rebbe Nassan says, כל שזקוק לראשון זקוק לשני – Whoever requires the first pesach requires the second one, but whoever does not require the first pesach does not require a pesach sheini. The Gemara explains that, as in the previous machlokes between them in regard to pesachim, Rebbe holds, שני רגל בפני עצמו הוא – Pesach sheini is a festival in its own right and carries its own pesach obligation. Rebbe Nassan holds, שני תשלומין דראשון הוא – pesach sheini substitutes for the first pesach. Therefore, someone who was never required to offer the first pesach cannot be required to offer a pesach sheini.

• איזו היא דרך רחוקה

The next Mishnah states, איזו היא דרך רחוקה – What is the measure of a distant road, meaning how far need one be from the Beis Hamikdash to be deferred to pesach sheini? מן המודיעים ולחוץ וכמדתה לכל רוח דברי רבי עקיבא – Rebbe Akiva says from the town of Modi’im and beyond, or a similar distance in any direction. Rebbe Eliezer says, מאיסקופת העזרה ולחוץ – From the threshold of the azarah and beyond.

Ulla and Rav Yehudah disagree as to how far Modi’in is from Yerushalayim. Ulla said, איזה הוא דרך רחוקה – What is the definition of a distant road? כל שאין יכול ליכנס בשעת שחיטה – Wherever he is so far, that if he set out at noon, he will not be able to arrive during the shechitah, meaning he will not arrive before nightfall. But Rav Yehudah said the definition is, כל שאין יכול ליכנס בשעת אכילה – Wherever he is so far, that if he sets out at noon he will not even be able to arrive during the time of eating the pesach, which is much later. This would mean Modi’in is further away according to Rav Yehudah.

Siman – Train (Chugging along). The Pesach Sheini train full of passengers eager to fulfill their chiyuv and not be chayav kares, started singing mazel to the newly converted ger and bar mitzvah boy who boarded the train at Modi’in.