This Wednesday is the 'minor' holiday of Biblical origin, Pesach Sheni - the "Second" Pesach.
The source for Pesach Sheni can be found in Chapter 9 of the book of Numbers. Moshe announced that the Passover sacrifice (Korban Pesach) may only be eaten by people who are ritually pure. One who was ritually unclean, ta'mai, was not allowed to bring and partake of the Paschal Offering.
Then a group of people approached Moshe and Aharon at the time the first offering was brought after the exodus. They, because of the fact they were ritually unclean from contact with a corpse, were not able to bring the offering. This group asked Moshe and Aharon "Why are we being prevented to bring the offering with the rest of Israel, in the proper time?'
The response from Moshe was, "Stand and hear what G-d has commanded you." Then, the Torah relates the laws concerning Pesach Sheni, an opportunity for all those who missed bringing the Korban Pesach at the proper time through no fault of their own, to bring this offering, on the 14th of Iyar, a full month later and hence fulfill this special commandment.
In Chassidic philosophy, especially as expounded upon by one of the Rabbis of Lubavitch, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, Pesach Sheni is about second chances, since the original Pesach Sheni was in response to people who had been unable to be included in the Pesach observance and were granted another opportunity exactly one full moon after the first Pesach.
In my high school yearbook, somebody wrote a quote attributed to Michael Jordan, "Life is like a basketball game; if you've got a shot- take it!"
I understand that quote to mean that we have limited number of opportunities in life, so when an opportunity comes your way, go for it! You never know if you'll get a second chance or not. This might be your only shot, so take it.
Israel is a great believer in taking one-time opportunities that come her way. Exactly 63 years ago, on the 5th of Iyar, 5708, May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion declared Israel a state against the advice of the Americans and other foreign powers. Even though the threat of war and annihilation from the surrounding Arab States hung in the air, Ben-Gurion was still prepared to announce the beginning of the new state. Because he did not sit and wait, Jewish history was forever changed. The same could be said about the reunification of Jerusalem (including establishment of Israeli control of the Western Wall) during the Six Day War in 1967. We had a 'shot' to reclaim Jerusalem and we took it!
But not everyone in the Middle East takes opportunities when first presented to them. As the late Israeli statesman Abba Eban once stated, "the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity".
One website I encountered listed at least 25 times in recent history that the Palestinian 'leadership' missed an opportunity. Opportunities to have their own state, improve their relations with Israel, or even to simply improve the plight of their own people.
True, maybe it was a blessing in disguise for Israel that Arafat passed on Ehud Barak's overly generous offer at Camp David, but that was hardly the only time that the Palestinians 'passed' or 'didn't take a shot' when they had an opportunity to 'score points'. The recent 'deal' between Hamas and Fatah is another. But more telling is when Hamas leadership condemned the US killing of mega-terrorist Osama Bin Laden. Shouldn't that have sent some kind of red light warning to any peace aspiring Palestinians that these guys aren't the ones they should be siding with?
Not only do the Palestinian not take a good shot at the goal when they have the opportunity, more often than not they seem to kick the ball into their own net, scoring their 'own goal' which does more harm than anything.
Hockey great Wayne Gretzky's once said, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Which simply put means you have to take an opportunity when it comes along. The Palestinians either seem to squander every opportunity that comes their way by not taking a shot or even worse, by kicking the ball into their own net.
Pesach Sheni is about second chances, BUT, it is only meant for those who are sincere. It was for those who couldn't bring the Passover sacrifice because they were unable to, not because they simply 'missed out' or 'did not take the chance' when the opportunity presented itself. Pesach Sheni is not about 'unlimited' second chances. It's about getting a second chance, but only when it is warranted.
I am reminded of the famous story of a fellow who was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help. Soon a man in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, “Jump in, I can save you.” The stranded fellow shouted back, “No, it’s OK, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me.” So the rowboat went on.
Then a motorboat came by. “The fellow in the motorboat shouted, “Jump in, I can save you.” To this the stranded man said, “No thanks, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith.” So the motorboat went on.
Then a helicopter came by and the pilot shouted down, “Grab this rope and I will lift you to safety.” To this the stranded man again replied, “No thanks, I’m praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith.” So the helicopter reluctantly flew away.
Soon the water rose above the rooftop and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with God, at which point he exclaimed, “I had faith in you but you didn’t save me, you let me drown. I don’t understand why!” To this God replied, “I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?”
Israel recognizes and takes advantage of opportunities when they come her way.
As for the Palestinians, well, they always seem to manage to 'miss the boat'.