Guide to the Jewish Year

Adar

אֲדָר

Israeli: ' marks a reduced vowel that Israeli speech drops (b'rachah); when the vowel is pronounced it is written e (lefanecha). - separates syllables that would otherwise run together.

How to read the transliterations

Seven Species linked to the land of Israel, that is, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates [משנ״ב, שם: לא].

שַׁבָּת פָּרָשַׁת שְׁקָלִים

Parashat Shekalim Shabbat (Mevarkhim Ḥodesh Adar)

181 Torah reading: When the Sabbath before Rosh Ḥodesh Adar arrives (Rosh Ḥodesh Adar II in a leap year), a further Torah scroll is taken from the Ark. Parashat Shekalim, first among four special Maftir-Haftara units (אַרְבַּע פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת), is read from it. Maftir: Ex. 30:11–16. Haftara: II Kings 12:1–17 [שו״ע או״ח, תרפה:א]. אָב הָרַחֲמִים is omitted.

182 Should Rosh Ḥodesh Adar (Rosh Ḥodesh Adar II in a leap year) occur on Shabbat, three Torah scrolls are removed from the Ark. To the first scroll six men are called up and the week's portion is read. To the second scroll a seventh man is called for the reading of Num. 28:9–15. Half Kaddish is said. From the third scroll Maftir (Ex. 30:11–16) is read. Haftara is II Kings 12:1–17 [שם]. אָב הָרַחֲמִים is omitted.

אֲדָר

ADAR

פּוּרִים קָטָן

Purim Katan (Adar I, the 14th–15th)

183 In a leap year, on those dates in Adar I that correspond to Purim and Shushan Purim, Taḥanun and לַמְנַצֵּחַ alike are omitted [שו״ע או״ח, תרצז:א].

שַׁבָּת פָּרָשַׁת זָכוֹר

Parashat Zakhor Shabbat (Shabbat before Purim)

184 Torah law affirmatively obliges one to recall Amalek's actions, in attacking the children of Israel after the exodus from Egypt [שו״ע או״ח, קלז:א]. On the Shabbat before Purim this mitzva is fulfilled: a second Torah scroll is taken from the Ark, and from it Parashat Zakhor (Deut. 25:17–19), second of the four special Maftir-Haftara units (אַרְבַּע פָּרָשִׁיּוֹת), is read. Haftara: I Sam. 15:2–34 [שו״ע או״ח, תרפה:ב]. אָב הָרַחֲמִים is omitted.

185 Since men and women share equal obligation to perform this mitzva, many congregations arrange a further reading of Parashat Zakhor for those who missed the first reading.

תַּעֲנִית אֶסְתֵּר

Fast of Esther (Adar, the 13th)

186 This fast commemorates the fast of Esther before she went to see King Ahasuerus without an invitation (Esther 4:15–16). Unlike other fast days, the fast of Esther is deemed a custom, and anyone who experiences serious discomfort may eat or drink [רמ״א או״ח, תרפו:ב].

187 Should the 13th of Adar fall on Shabbat, the fast is kept on the Thursday before [שו״ע, שם].

188 At dawn the fast begins (see law 48).

189 Prayers follow those for the 10th of Tevet (see laws 175–178), save that during Minḥa one does not say Avinu Malkenu and Taḥanun. However, should the 13th of Adar fall on Shabbat with the fast moved back to Thursday, Avinu Malkenu and Taḥanun are said.

פּוּרִים

Purim (Adar, the 14th)

190 On Purim, וְעַל הַנִּסִּים is inserted in the Amida at Ma'ariv, Shaḥarit and Minḥa, and likewise in the second blessing of Birkat HaMazon. If one forgets to say וְעַל הַנִּסִּים, neither the Amida nor Birkat HaMazon is repeated [שו״ע או״ח, תרצג:ב].

191 Ma'ariv: for weekdays. After recitation of the Amida, the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur says the Full Kaddish. The Reader of the Megilla says three blessings: (1) עַל מִקְרָא מְגִלָּה ("about reading the Megilla"), (2) שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים ("Who performed miracles") and (3) שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ (page 957). The Megilla is read and the concluding blessing, הָרָב אֶת רִיבֵנוּ, is said. The congregation says אֲשֶׁר הֵנִיא and concludes with a joyous singing of שׁוֹשַׁנַּת יַעֲקֹב. The Shaliaḥ Tzibbur leads the congregation in saying וְאַתָּה קָדוֹשׁ (page 307). On Motza'ei Shabbat, this is preceded by וִיהִי נֹעַם (page 305) [שו״ע או״ח, תרצג:א]. This is followed by Full Kaddish (omitting the sentence beginning תִּתְקַבַּל), Psalm 121, Mourner's Kaddish, Barekhu and Aleinu [משנ״ב, שם:א]. On Motza'ei Shabbat, Havdala is said before Aleinu [ערוה״ש, שם:ג].

192 Women bear an obligation to hear the reading of the Megilla [שו״ע או״ח, תרפט:א].

193 Shaḥarit: weekday liturgy. Once the Repetition of the Amida is done, Half Kaddish is said by the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur and the Torah is taken from the Ark. After the Torah reading (page 1176) come Half Kaddish and the return of the Torah to the Ark [שו״ע או״ח, תרצג:ד]. The Megilla is read again, with the introductory blessings and the concluding blessing. אֲשֶׁר הֵנִיא is not said a second time, yet שׁוֹשַׁנַּת יַעֲקֹב is. The congregation recites Ashrei and וּבָא לְצִיּוֹן, then Full Kaddish, and the service ends as for weekdays (page 177).

194 On the day of Purim, one must fulfill the mitzvot of מַתָּנוֹת לָאֶבְיוֹנִים (presents for the poor – tzedaka bestowed on no fewer than two poor people) [שו״ע או״ח, תרצד:א]; מִשְׁלוֹחַ מָנוֹת (dispatching no fewer than two portions of food to one person) [שם, תרצה:ד]; and סְעוּדַת פּוּרִים (the Purim feast), during which one should drink "until he cannot distinguish between 'Cursed be Haman' and 'Blessed be Mordekhai'" [שם, תרצה:ב].