The Month of Adar

From Redemption to Redemption: Purim & Pesah

Something interesting about the Jewish month of Adar: In some years there is one Adar, while in leap years, there are two consecutive Adars. This raises the question: In which Adar is Purim celebrated in leap years? The answer is: in the Adar that immediately precedes the month of Nissan, and not the earlier Adar. This is in order that Purim can be commemorated as close to Pesah as possible. The reason this is so important has to do with the inherent link between the Redemption of Purim and that of Pesah.

Happiness and Hiddenness

It’s common knowledge that Adar is the happiest of all months. But why should it be? True, it contains Purim in it, & Purim is indeed filled with fun & food, single malt & masquerades. But does that make it the happiest?

10. Commemoration of the Half-Shekel

Chapter 14: The Month of Adar

People customarily give charity in the month of Adar in commemoration of the half-shekel that each individual would donate to the Temple, in Adar, to fund public offerings.

7. Are Women Obligated to Hear Parashat Zakhor?

Chapter 14: The Month of Adar

According to most poskim, women are not obligated in the mitzva of remembering Amalek, because this mitzva is connected to the mitzva of annihilating Amalek.

6. Parashat Zakhor

Chapter 14: The Month of Adar

The Sages instituted the reading of Parashat Zakhor once a year in order to fulfill the Torah commandment to remember and not forget the evil deeds of Amalek.

5. The Mitzva to Wipe Out Amalek

Chapter 14: The Month of Adar

The mitzva to destroy Amalek is primarily incumbent upon the people of Israel as a whole. Indeed, the Sages taught that the people of Israel were commanded to fulfill three mitzvot upon entering Eretz Yisrael

4. The Three Mitzvot Concerning the Obliteration of Amalek

Chapter 14: The Month of Adar

Three mitzvot in the Torah relate to Amalek. The first is a positive commandment to remember what Amalek did to us. . The second is a negative commandment not to forget what Amalek did to us. The third is a positive commandment to eradicate Amalek’s offspring from the world.

2. The Four Parshiyot

Chapter 14: The Month of Adar

The Sages instituted the public reading of four Torah passages (parshiyot) in addition to the weekly Torah portion: Parashat Shekalim, Parashat Zakhor, Parashat Para, and Parashat Ha-ĥodesh.