The Korban Pesach (Passover Sacrifice) is a lamb or goat that was offered in the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple) on the 14th of Nissan, the day before Pesach begins. It was then roasted whole and eaten that night as part of the Pesach Seder.

This korban commemorates the original Pesach in Egypt, when the Jewish people slaughtered a lamb and placed its blood on their doorposts, and Hashem passed over their homes during the plague of the firstborn.

The Korban Pesach is unique among sacrifices because every Jew is obligated to participate in it, either directly or through joining a group (chaburah).

Every Jewish man, woman, and child is obligated to be part of a Korban Pesach. The korban is brought by a "chaburah" (group), and each person must be registered to a specific korban before it is slaughtered.

According to the Rambam (Hilchot Korban Pesach 2:1-2): • Each chaburah should have at least one adult male • Women and children can be part of the chaburah • One cannot be registered to two different korbanot • A person can withdraw from one chaburah and join another before the korban is slaughtered

The minimum amount each person should eat is a kezayit (olive-sized portion) of the meat.

The Korban Pesach is brought on the 14th of Nissan, in the afternoon. According to the Rambam (Hilchot Korban Pesach 1:4):

• The korban is slaughtered after the afternoon Tamid offering • It must be slaughtered after midday (chatzot) • The ideal time is after 2:30 PM (according to halachic hours) • It must be completed before sunset

The korban is then roasted and eaten that night, the first night of Pesach (15th of Nissan), as part of the Seder.

There is also a "Pesach Sheni" (Second Pesach) on the 14th of Iyar for those who were impure or too far from Jerusalem on the first Pesach.

The Korban Pesach must be brought in the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple) in Jerusalem. According to the Rambam (Hilchot Korban Pesach 1:3):

• The slaughtering takes place in the Azarah (Temple courtyard) • The blood is sprinkled on the Mizbeach (altar) • The fats and organs are burned on the Mizbeach • The meat is taken home to be roasted and eaten

The korban can only be eaten within the walls of Jerusalem. If a person takes the meat outside the walls, it becomes invalid.

This is why all Jews would travel to Jerusalem for Pesach during Temple times, fulfilling the mitzvah of Aliyah L'Regel (pilgrimage).

According to the Rambam (Hilchot Korban Pesach 1:1-3), the Korban Pesach must be:

Animal Type: • A male lamb (keves) or goat (ez) • Must be in its first year of life • Must be unblemished (no physical defects)

Preparation: • Selected on the 10th of Nissan (4 days before) • Inspected for blemishes • Each korban should serve a chaburah that can consume it entirely

The korban must be roasted whole: • Including the head, legs, and innards • Roasted over fire, not boiled or cooked any other way • Nothing may be left over until morning - leftovers must be burned

The Korban Pesach is eaten on the night of the 15th of Nissan with specific requirements (Rambam, Hilchot Korban Pesach 8:1-4):

Requirements: • Must be roasted, not raw or boiled • Eaten with matzah and maror (bitter herbs) • Must be eaten while satiated (not as one's main hunger) • Eaten by members of the registered chaburah only

Time Limits: • Must be eaten at night, after dark • Must be consumed before midnight (according to the Rambam) • Any remaining meat must be burned before morning

The manner of eating: • Eaten in a group setting • While reclining (as free people) • In a designated location within Jerusalem