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, butwhen 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 period of redemption and salvation beginning with Adar and Purim and carrying straight through Pesach.
However, 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 in the time of the Beit HaMikdash Adar was the month when the half shekel was collected. And those half shekels were the way klal Yisrael participated in the daily offering in the Beit HaMikdash, which was, a true reason to celebrate and rejoice! HALACHA OF THE WEEK: The Arba Parshiyot Chazal established the custom to read four special sections 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 way Chazal determined choosing the "off weeks” was: a) Zachor must be read 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.
In addition to the special maftir, on these weeks Av HaRachamim is not recited, and according to many authorities the Kel Maley is also not recited [Aruch HaShulchan, ibid.].
Receive a daily 3 Minute Thought directly to your whatsapp. Click here to enroll
REFUAH SHLAIMA * to Rachel Silverman who is recuperating at home. * to Esther Meyers who is recuperating at home
SPONSORS @ KINS To sponsor a Kiddush, Seuda Shlishit, or to donate to the Kiddush Fund or Learning Fund please click here.
Kiddush at KINS North is sponsored by Linda and Dr. Mark Freedman in commemoration of the yahrtzeits on 29 Shevat of Linda’s father, Sidney Lorber z’l – Yisroel Chaim ben Moshe Mordechai HaCohen, and her brother, Howard Lorber z’l – Yaakov Tzvi ben Yisroel Chaim HaCohen
Seudah Shlishit at KINS North is sponsored by Steve and Malka Miretzky in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Steve’s father, Marvin Miretzky z’l – Moshe Yaakov ben Mordechai Ben Zion z’l.
A Donation to the Kiddush Fund was made by: * Carol Silverman in commemoration of the yahrtzeit for her father, Richard Michael Sachs z’l. * Irwin and Deedie Gold in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Irwin’s father, Rabbi William B. Gold z’lזאב בן חיים יצחק ,.
The week of Learning February 19th through February 25th is sponsored: * by Ronna and Abe Adler in commemoration of the yahrtzeit of Ronna’s mother, Mrs. Lillian Stiefel, לאה בת יהודה ז"ל * by Seymour and Sharon Gertz in commemoration of the yahrtzeits of their mothers, Mrs. Doris Rosenberg z’l - דבורה אסתר בת דוד ז'ל and Mrs. Gwen Gertz z’l - מרגלית בת ר' שילם ז'ל
The Parent/Child Learning this week is sponsored by Levi and Lani Kahn.
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT The Annual Tanielle Miller Foundation Lecture, commemorating Tanielle’s 18th yartzeit will be February 26, 2023 via Zoom. 12:00 pm cst., given by Rabbi David Fohrman of Aleph Beta.
This year’s topic is “From Shalom Aleichem to Boruch kel Elyon: A Look at the Hidden World of Shabbat Zemirot”. Meeting ID: 87502211188 Passode: 578492. For more information please contact Glenn Miller or Ruth Rotenberg @ rmrotenberg@gmail.com. We look forward to sharing Rabbi Fohrman’s insightful Torah.
DAYTIME DIALOGUES: Wednesdays at noon 30 MINUTES OF PARSHA - Wed. 8:00pm/Shabbat 8:30am
SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM - Wed. 8:15pm
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR - 4:00pm
TALMUD CLASS – 45 minutes before mincha
PARENT-CHILD LEARNING - 1 hour after havdala
SEFER YESHAYAHU - Sundays, 9:00pm
BIRTHDAYS Mrs. Diane Abramowitz (2/18) Mrs. Aviva Vilenski (2/18) Mrs. Sarah Nussbaum (2/19) Mrs. Talya Warso (2/19) Mr. Etan Bleichman (2/20) Mr. Dovid Gelerinter (2/22) Moshe (Azi) Goldstein (2/23) Mr. James Mainzer (2/24)
ANNIVERSARIES Rabbi Rubin and Lynn Harris (2/22) Michael and Anne Kirshner (2/24)
Congregation K.I.N.S. of West Rogers Park Main: 2800 W. North Shore Ave & North: 3003 West Touhy • Chicago, IL 60645 P 773.761.4000 • F 773.761.4959 • www.congkins.org
SEMICHAT CHAVER PROGRAM - Wed. 8:15pm
SHABBAT WOMEN'S SHIUR - 4:00pm 
TALMUD CLASS – 45 minutes before mincha
PARENT-CHILD LEARNING - 1 hour after havdala
SEFER YESHAYAHU - Sundays, 9:00pm