The commandment to eat from the Pesach sacrifice is one of two positive commandments that carry the prohibition of “Karet” for its non-fulfillment. The other applies to the obligation of circumcision for every Jewish male. The Korban Pesach preparation in the Temple was a massive logistical undertaking. There was nothing that compared in the ancient world. Hundreds of thousands of Jews, participated in the offering of this sacrifice. A male lamb in its first year, was taken before the fourteenth of Nissan. The population was divided into groups known as “Chaburahs” to jointly partake of the meat of the sacrifice. There could have been as many as several dozen that were part of a Chaburah. There needed to be at least an olive sized piece of meat available to all participants. The Temple was divided into three shifts in the afternoon of the fourteenth. The courtyard known as the “Azara” was filled to capacity and then closed until the next shift came. Each lamb was slaughtered by its owner and its blood was gathered in a silver or gold container. A “fire brigade” type line was set up by the Kohanim, handing off the basin to one another, until the blood was sprinkled on the altar. The animal was then skinned and the אימורים, “innards,” were burned on the altar. The remainder of the animal was brought home to each owner. It was roasted on a spit and it was eaten at the Seder together with Matza and bitter herbs. Great care was taken to avoid breaking the bones of the animal. It was mandatory that all who partook be in a state of purity. If they were not pure, they were given a make-up date on the fourteenth of Iyar, on Pesach Sheini. It is difficult to imagine what it must have been like to participate in the Korban Pesach preparation. It was no doubt very spiritually elevating to be able to continue a tradition that began just before the exodus from Egypt’s

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