B"H
Tuesday, Shevat 30, 5782 / February 1, 2022
Today is the first day Rosh Chodesh Adar 1. This year is a leap year, which means that we have thirteen months instead of twelve. Thus, there are two months of Adar – Adar 1 & Adar 2.
The month of Adar is associated with Simcha- happiness. Our sages tell us, “Mishenichnas Adar Marbin B’simcha" - "When the month of Adar enters we increase in happiness.”
Purim is celebarted on the fourteenth day of Adar. However, in a leap year it is celebrated on the fourteenth day of Adar 2.
The month(s) of Adar and the month of Nissan are special days of salvation and redemption.
In Adar we celebrate Purim when the Jewish nation was miraculously saved from Haman's plot to annihilate them. In Nissan we celebrate Pesach (Passover) when we were saved from the enslavement at the hands of Pharaoh in Egypt.
Q. Why do we have a leap year?
A. The Torah commands the holiday of Pesach be celebrated in the spring. The Hebrew calendar, which is lunar based, has only 354 days in a twelve month period, while the solar year has 365 days. In order that the holiday of Pesach should always be celebareted during the spring, an additional month has to be added every few years.
Q. Why was the month of Adar chosen to have the additional month?
A. This is because the month of Adar is considered the last month in the Hebrew calendar, as the months begin with Nissan. In the Torah there are no names for the months, they are referred to by numbers. The month of Nissan is the first and the month of Adar is the twelvth month. Thus, the additional month is added to the last month of the year. In the Hebrew calendar, the New Year – Rosh Hashana – is in the seventh month!
Q. Why is Purim celebrated in Adar 2, not in Adar 1?
A. As mentioned before, in Adar we celebrate the redemption of the Jewish people from Haman, who wanted to have them annihilated and on Pesach we celebrate the redemption from the Egyptians. In order to celebrate the two redemptions close to one another, Purim is celebrated in Adar 2 which is closest to Pesach.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY, AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
& A WONDERFUL CHODESH-MONTH