The Significance of Leap Year and Adar II in the Hebrew Calendar

Every few years in the Hebrew calendar, a leap year occurs. This is a year that includes 13 months. While in regular years there is one month of Adar, in a leap year, there are two: Adar I and Adar II.

The purpose of the leap year is that all the Hebrew holidays are based, on one hand, on the lunar cycle, and on the other, are tied to the seasons. Due to the commandment, "Guard the month of spring," an additional month must be added before Passover to ensure that the holiday always falls in the spring season.

The Sanhedrin’s Role in the Leap Year

During the time of the Talmud, the Sanhedrin would decide each year whether to add a leap month. The members of the Sanhedrin would deliberate over various factors that could influence the decision to add the month. The main factor was, of course, whether Passover would fall in the spring or not. Other factors included disruptions in the roads or bridges needing repair, which could pose a danger to those traveling to Jerusalem for the Passover pilgrimage. Once the decision was made, special letters were sent to the entire Jewish community with the updated calendar.

The Fixed Hebrew Calendar Today

Today, the Hebrew calendar follows a fixed cycle, with leap years determined in advance by a periodic 19-year cycle, where seven years are leap years. In other words, a leap year occurs roughly every three years.

In a leap year, an additional month is inserted between Shevat and Adar, called Adar I, or the "first Adar," while the regular Adar month is referred to as Adar II. Our sages decided that Purim would be celebrated in Adar II, to be aligned with Passover.

The commemoration of Moshe's passing (7th of Adar) was also set for Adar II, based on the teachings of the sages, who determined that Moshe passed away in the Adar close to Nisan.

Adar II: A Special Month for Spiritual Connection

Adar II is a special and auspicious month for drawing Israel closer to their Heavenly Father. In Shemen Shmuel, the following wonderful words are brought: "Nisan is a special time for Israel's closeness to their Father in Heaven, and therefore it is a special time for redemption. Every year, in the month of Adar preceding Nisan, a new awakening is given from Heaven to the hearts of Israel, even to those who have been in a state of sleep throughout the year."

The Shemen Shmuel further explains that since Nisan is a time of renewing the service of Hashem, in the month of Adar, Israel receives preparation for this from Heaven. His words are: "Nisan is the time for the renewal of service, requiring effort from the heart, vitality, and the uplift of the soul. Therefore, in Adar, which precedes it, Israel is given from Heaven courage and strengthening of the heart, a sense of holiness, and the uplifting of the soul." (Shemen Shmuel, Vayakhel, 1919)

May we merit to make the most of the coming days, with the great days of Purim ahead of us, and draw closer and closer to our Father in Heaven.