Project Genesis




The Calendar and Holidays (incl. Sabbath)

Purim

Purim During a Leap Year

Question: Why is Purim celebrated twice in a leap year when we have 2 months of Adar? In the book of Esther the 12th month is mentioned as the day that King Xerxes and Haman plotted against the Jews. I thought we should celebrate Purim only once during the 12th month or Adar I.

Answer: You have asked an excellent question. I would first like to provide a little background and clarify the entire issue of Purim during a leap year and then delve a little deeper.

The Talmud in Tractate Megilla (6b) records a disagreement concerning when we read the Megilla in a leap year. One opinion posits that it makes more sense to place the major celebration in Adar I since every other year Purim takes place in the month after Shvat, therefore we should also have the main celebration of Purim in a leap year in the month after Shvat, namely Adar I. The other opinion states that in every other year, we celebrate Purim in the month preceding the month of Nissan. Therefore, in a leap year, we should have the main celebration in the month preceding Nissan, mainly Adar II. The law follows the second opinion, apparently favoring the line of reasoning the Talmud adds for this second opinion that it makes sense to juxtapose the celebration of redemption on Purim with the celebration of redemption on Passover. This explains why the main celebration occurs in Adar II.

Nonetheless, as you allude, we also celebrate Purim to some extent in Adar I as well. The Mishna in Megilla (6b) states that in fact there is no difference between the Adar I and Adar II, save the reading of the Megilla and giving money to the poor. Meaning that one should celebrate on the 14th and 15th of Adar I just as he would in Adar II. Indeed, the major codifiers of Jewish law suggest having some form of feast on the 14th of Adar I as well. As you ask, why do we celebrate twice?

There are a number of suggestions offered. A very interesting explanation I have read explains that the two Adars represent two distinct aspects of our expression of service of G-d: Adar I corresponds to the realm of thought, while Adar II corresponds to the realm of action in our service of G-d. Thus, the celebration of Purim in each month should reflect the focus of that month. In Adar I, our celebration of Purim should focus on the realm of thought and how Purim can enhance our thought in our service of G-d. In Adar II, meanwhile, our celebration of Purim should focus on our actions as they relate to our service of G-d. According to this explanation, it becomes even more understandable why the celebration involving actions (like reading the Megilla) take place in Adar II since that month is devoted to our actions in our service of G-d.

Rabbi Yoel Spotts

[Reposted from the Archives]

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