B"H
Tuesday, 14 Adar 1, 5776 / February 23, 2016 – HAKHEL YEAR
Today is the 14th day of Adar 1. In a non leap year, when we have only one month of Adar, today we would have been celebrating Purim. But due to the fact that this year (5776) is a leap year, in which there are two months of Adar, Purim will be celebrated on the 14th of the second Adar.
However, being that in most years, today would have been Purim, we do mark this day as a special day. The 14th day of the first Adar is called, “Purim Katan” – “minor Purim.” We omit the prayers of supplication and consider it a minor festive day. From today to Pesach this year, is exactly two months.
Q.There is a general rule that we don’t push off a mitzvah and we try to perform it at the first opportunity. Why then is Purim celebrated in the second Adar and not in the first Adar?
A. The Talmud tells us that when Haman wanted to annihilate the Jewish people, he drew lots as to which month would be the most appropriate for his murderous plan to work. He knew that many before him wanted to do away with the Jewish people, but G-d nullified their plans, so he tried his luck by drawing lots on each of the months of the year.
When the lot fell on the month of Adar, he was overjoyed. He knew that on the seventh day of Adar, Moses, the leader of the Jewish people passed away. He figured that if Moshe passed away during this month, Adar was not a lucky month for Jews and his plan was going to succeed.
However, what he didn’t know, says the Talmud, is that Moshe, who lived 120 years, was also born on the seventh of Adar. Moshe was the savior and protector of the Jewish people. He led them out of Egypt and brought them through the sea. He led them through the desert for forty years and supplied all their needs. Thus, in the merit of Moshe’s birth, which was in the month of Adar, Haman’s decree was nullified and the Jewish people were saved.
Because it was in Moshe’s merit that we were saved, we celebrate Purim closer to the holiday of Pesach (Passover), when Moshe saved the Jewish people from their Egyptian bondage. In the words of the Talmud, “We connect the redemption of Purim to the redemption of the Exodus from Pharaoh.”
Q.This week’s Parsha Ki Tisa, begins with the half shekel contribution which every male between the ages of 20 to 60 had to contribute toward the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The Parsha also commands about many of the vessels which had to be made for the Mishkan. Then G-d commands Moshe to command the people, “But My Shabbat you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you for all your generations.” Why does the Torah repeat the commandment of observing Shabbat, which was already commanded in the Ten Commandments?
A.To teach us the greatness and importance of the mitzvah of observing Shabbat. The Torah teaches us here that one cannot desecrate the Shabbat even for the sake of building the House of G-d – the Mishkan or the Holy Temple.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY