Derasha 1 on Behaalosecha 9:10

Parashas Behaalosecha · Aliyah 3 · Passuk 10

The Complete Passuk

דַּבֵּ֛ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר אִ֣ישׁ אִ֣ישׁ כִּי־יִהְיֶֽה־טָמֵ֣א ׀ לָנֶ֡פֶשׁ אוֹ֩ בְדֶ֨רֶךְ רְחֹקָ֜ה לָכֶ֗ם א֚וֹ לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וְעָ֥שָׂה פֶ֖סַח לַיהֹוָֽה׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah (Pesachim 66b): “איש איש כי יהיה טמא” — an individual is deferred to Pesach Sheni; the community is not deferred but offers in tumah.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: דְּאָמַר קְרָא ״אִישׁ אִישׁ כִּי יִהְיֶה טָמֵא לָנֶפֶשׁ״. אִישׁ נִדְחֶה לְפֶסַח שֵׁנִי, וְאֵין צִיבּוּר נִידְחִין לְפֶסַח שֵׁנִי, אֶלָּא עָבְדִי בְּטוּמְאָה.

English: Rabbi Yochanan said: as the verse states “A man, a man who becomes tamei by a nefesh.” An individual is deferred to Pesach Sheni, but the community is not deferred to Pesach Sheni; rather they offer in tumah.

Type of Learning

Distinction individual / community — the doubled “ish ish” marks the private case that is pushed to the second month.

What Is Learned

Communal obligation is strong enough that tumah does not cancel the offering; private tumah does.