HALACHA OF THE WEEK:The Arba Parshiyot The Rabbis established the custom to read four special section from the Torah on weeks before Purim and up to Rosh Chodesh Nissan [Megillah 30b].
These four special sections are: 1. "Parshat Shekalim" which is read on the Shabbat of, or the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Adar, in commemoration the collection of shekalim that was begun at that time to underwrite the cost of the communal sacrifices.
2. "Parshat Zachor" which is read on the Shabbat before Purim, in fulfillment of the Biblical obligation to remember Amalek and to coincide with the time we read of the destruction of Haman.
3. "Parshat Parah" which is typically read on the Shabbat after Purim, in commemoration of the way people would purify themselves to prepare to celebrate Pesach
4. "Parshat HaChodesh" which is read on the Shabbat of, or the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nisan, to recall the first Rosh Chodesh Nisan which occurred before the Exodus.
Obviously, these four parshiyot cannot be read on four consecutive weeks, because they span a five-week period. Therefore, there needs to be at least one week "off" from the reading. The logic behind choosing which weeks between Shekalim and Rosh Chodesh Nisan should be "off" weeks is, that a) Zachor has to be before Purim, and b) Parah and Chodesh are connected in the theme of preparing for Pesach and therefore should not be separated [Aruch HaShulchan 685:9].
As an aid, the Aruch HaShulchan offered an acrostic to remember which weeks we take a break from the four parshiyot. The acrostic is: "zayin- tu" (7-15); "bet vav" (2-6); "daled-daled" (4-4); and "bet-yud vav" (2-16) and means the following: * "zayin-tu" (7-15) - When Rosh Chodesh Adar Falls on the seventh day (Shabbat), then the week off is the 15th of Adar. * "bet vav" (2-6) - When Rosh Chodesh Adar falls on the second day (Monday), then the week off is the 6th of Adar. * "daled-daled" (4-4) - When Rosh Chodesh Adar is on the fourth day (Wednesday), then the week off is the 4th of Adar; and * "bet-yud vav" (2-16) - When Rosh Chodesh Adar is on the sixth day (Friday), then the 16th of Adar is a week off.
Of course, besides the extra readings these special weeks are Shabbatot when the prayer of Av HaRachamim is not recited, as is true, according to many authorities of the Kel Maley prayer [Aruch HaShulchan, ibid.].
DVAR TORAH - Mishenichnas Adar Marbim b’Simcha The Talmud in Taanit [29b] notes that just as when the month of Av arrives, we should reduce our joy, so too when Adar arrives, we should increase our joy, which, according to Rashi is because these were days of miracles for klal Yisrael. The Talmud continues and says that if one has a court case with a non-Jew, he should schedule it to take place in Adar when his "mazal" is good.
Although there are no halachically mandated changes for Adar, the deeper message in "mishenichnas Adar marbim b’simcha" is that we are entering a time of redemption and salvation beginning with Adar and Purim and carrying straight through Pesach.
The Sfat Emet suggests an alternative to Rashi’s explanation. The joy in Adar is not due to the miracles that took place. Rather it is because of the ability to continue to offer the sacrifices in the Beit Hamikdash - something that was enabled by the collection of the half shekel which began in this month, and something that we recall this week with the special reading of “parshat shekalim.”
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