Pesachim, Chapter 9, Mishnah 2. In the previous mishnah we mentioned that one of the two main circumstances that obligate a person to bring the second Pesach is his being on a distant journey. Our mishnah comes to clarify: what qualifies as a distant journey, and what distance is considered as such?
The View of Rabbi Akiva:
The mishnah says: "min haModi'im ulechutz, uchmiddasah lechol ruach" - from a place called Modi'im and outward, and that same distance in every direction. The Gemara explains that this refers to fifteen mil. This is the view of Rabbi Akiva.
Which Point in Time Is Decisive?
The Rishonim disagree about the time at which a person must be at this distance:
The Approach of Rashi: If at the beginning of the time for slaughtering, that is, at midday, he was at such a distance, he is exempt, since he has no way of reaching the Temple at any point during the time for slaughtering. This distance is about half a day's walk, and even if he sets out at that very hour, he will arrive only after the time for slaughtering has passed.
The Approach of the Rambam: This refers to someone who at the very start of the day was so far away that he could not manage to arrive by the beginning of the time for slaughtering. That is the decisive criterion.
The View of Rabbi Eliezer:
Rabbi Eliezer disagrees and holds that no great distance is required at all: "me'iskufat ha'Azarah ulechutz" - it is enough that the person is outside the threshold at the entrance to the Azarah. As long as he is not in the Azarah at that hour and is not offering the Pesach sacrifice, it is considered a distant journey.
The Words of Rabbi Yosei:
Rabbi Yosei said: "lefichach nakud al hei" - therefore a dot is placed in the Torah scroll over the letter hei in the word "rechokah". Wherever a dot is placed in the Torah scroll, it comes to limit and narrow the plain understanding, and to teach us: "lo shehu rechokah vadai" - it does not mean that he must be truly far away, "ela me'iskufat ha'Azarah ulechutz", with only a minimal degree of distance. It is enough that he is outside the threshold of the Azarah of the Temple to be considered on a distant journey, and therefore he may bring the second Pesach if he did not bring the first Pesach.