Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Yosei disagree on whether an individual alone may offer up the korban Pesakh in the second Mishna on today’s daf TB Pesakhim 91. The Gemara explains how each rabbi reached his position.
“MISHNA: We do not slaughter the Paschal lamb on behalf of an individual, only for a group of people; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda. And Rabbi Yosei permits it. And even if there is a group of one hundred who together are unable to eat an olive-bulk of it, we do not slaughter on their behalf.
“GEMARA: The Sages taught in a baraita: From where is it derived that we do not slaughter a Paschal lamb on behalf on an individual? The verse states: ‘You may not sacrifice the Paschal lamb in any one of your gates, which the Lord your God has given you' (Deuteronomy 16:5). The phrase ‘in any one' is expounded to mean: For any one person, which indicates that the Paschal lamb is not slaughtered on behalf of an individual; this is the statement of Rabbi Yehuda. And Rabbi Yosei says: If there is an individual and he is able to eat an olive-bulk of the Paschal lamb, one slaughters it on his behalf; whereas if there are ten people and they are unable to eat together an olive-bulk of the Paschal lamb, we do not slaughter it on their behalf.” (Sefaria.org translation)
Later on the rabbis discuss whether an individual woman or group solely of women may bring a korban Pesakh. Rambam poskins affirmatively. (Mishneh Torah, Sefer Korbanot, Hilkhot Pesakh, Chapter 2 Halalkha 4)
Even though Jewish law permits for individual to offer up a Passover sacrifice when the Temple stood just for himself, I can think of two reasons why he would be discouraged. The first reason is the prohibition of notar, leftovers. Any leftover Passover sacrifice the next day needs to be destroyed. As a special treat for my wife I buy and prepare lamb chops. She is quite content and just eating four chops with the side dishes. I doubt whether a regular person can eat a whole lamb or goat by himself; consequently, I assume there would be leftovers as a natural course of events. The rabbis would not be happy knowing the destruction of the korban Pesakh was a given from the outset. Besides that, my grandmother was correct. It is a sin to waste food.
Secondly, Passover is such a happy holiday. Many people describe it as their favorite holiday because family and friends gather around a festive meal. Some of my best Passover memories are the large seders we had at our house. There was some learning, lots of singing, plenty of laughter, and copious amounts of delicious food enjoyed by all. Last year’s Seder was the most difficult because of the Covid restrictions. Judy and I were home alone for the seder for the first time in our married life. Zoom save the day because one son and daughter-in-law and her parents joined us virtually. I can only imagine how sad I would be if I had to celebrate Passover all by myself.
Because nobody should be alone for Passover, people open up their homes to strangers and synagogues open up the doors for a communal Seder. A party one? No thank you.
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