A Jewish Mulligan


I don’t play golf but I have heard about this strange term, “mulligan.” Having researched the term fully (thanks Google,) I learned that history cites three men named Mulligan who have been credited for creating this now-famous do-over rule. If your first shot is not so great you get a second chance. It seems that having left the realm of sports jargon nowadays any kind of second chance can be called (for better or worse) a mulligan. You know that we Jews never like to be left out so, yes, there actually is a Jewish mulligan!

The Jewish mulligan began in the wilderness as our ancestors celebrated their second Passover. There were those among the Israelites who had been unable to make the Passover sacrifice. They appeared before Moses and asked if there was something they could do. Taking advice from God, Moses instituted Pesach Sheni, meaning “second Passover.” The law was that one month after Passover, the 14th day of Iyar, would be the day on which anyone could make the Passover offering if they were unable to do so in Nisan. (This year Pesach Sheni is on April 28th.) Today, although there is no sacrifice to “make up,” many people have the custom of eating a piece of matza as a reminder of this ancient law.

The Jewish mulligan gave everyone who needed it a do-over to be a part of celebrating Passover and the exodus from slavery to freedom. While in ancient times this law applied only to Passover I think we need to be reminded that sometimes life is one big mulligan. Yes, it is true that sometimes we only get one chance at certain things, but there are other times when life grants us the luxury of a do-over to make up for something that we missed. We really only lose that second chance if we fail to take it. Think about it… let your mind wander… if I had another chance… a second shot. Makes for a pretty interesting proposition doesn’t it? As I mentioned, a lot of times life never gives us a mulligan but I am very happy to report that a play by play analysis of Judaism shows that life is full of them!

I can’t tell you how often I hear people say, “If I would have learned Hebrew,”” or “if I had the chance to do this or that.” Guess what… you still have the chance. On the field of Jewish living you are never too old to be a contender. The law of Pesach Sheni is our reminder- if you missed the mark the first time around use your mulligan! I’ll even volunteer to carry your clubs (well, at least your Siddur.) Passover may come and go but there is something worth celebrating every day as a Jew.

Make your own Pesach Sheni- do a Mitzvah you never did before. Don’t ever think that it is too late to try again. A Jewish mulligan? Who would have guessed!