Hamas War

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Adar Confusion, Looks Like Sh'vat

This year the Jewish Months are rather confusing.  We had the fall and winter Jewish Holidays falling the earliest possible on the general solar calendar, and now although it's officially the month of (the First) Adar Alef, it looks, according to the trees and other vegetation,  just like Shevat the previous month.




The almond blossoms are blooming!  It'll soon be TU (the 15th of) b'Adar Alef, and it looks more it's almost like TU (the 15th of) Shvat.


השקדיה פורחת מילים: ישראל דושמןלחן: מנשה רבינאקיים ביצוע לשיר זה 
השקדיה פורחת ושמש פז זורחת, צפורים מראש כל גג מבשרות את בוא החג. 
ט"ו בשבט הגיע חג לאילנות. ט"ו בשבט הגיע חג לאילנות. 
הארץ משוועת הגיעה עת לטעת, כל אחד יקח לו עץ באתים נצא חוצץ. 
ט"ו בשבט הגיע...
 “Hashkediya Porachat” The almond tree is blooming and the golden sun is shining,
birds atop each roof brush (bless) the arrival of the festival.Tu bishvat has arrived (it’s) the festival of trees.Tu bishvat has arrived (it’s) the festival of trees.The land is crying out the time of planting has arrivedeach person shall take a tree we’ll stride out with spades.Tu bishvat has arrived…We planted every hill and valley, From Dan to Beer – Sheva:And our land we will return and inherit -A land of refined fresh olive oil (Yitzhar) and honey.Tu bishvat has arrived…

It makes me wonder why Chazal, our sages, didn't decide to consider the extra month as a second Shevat instead of a second Adar.

At least the Purim Holiday and all other special days, such as yartzeits that happened in Adar when there's only one are observed in Adar Bet.  Adar Bet is the real Adar.  Only events, like yartzeits and birthdays (for Bar/bat mitzvah) that happened originally in Adar Alef are commemorated/celebrated in the first Adar.  

And if you're curious about when Purim will be, especially since Passover is a month later, Rosh Chodesh Adar Bet is a double and approaching rapidly.  Sunday March 2 (the 30th of Adar Alef) and Monday March 3, which will be the first of Adar Bet.

We'll be doing our Women's Rosh Chodesh Prayers at Shiloh Hakeduma, Tel Shiloh on the 1st of Adar Bet, Monday, March 3, G-d willing.

Women's Prayers at Tel Shiloh
Rosh Chodesh Adar Bet

Monday, March 3, 2014
1st of Adar Bet 5774, 8:30am
Tour of Tel Shiloh & Dvar Torah, Short Torah Lesson
Please come and invite family, friends and neighbors


תפילת נשים
ראש חודש אדר ב' בתל שילה


יום ב' 3-3 א' אדר ב' תשע"ד 8:30
יהיה דבר תורה קצר וסיור בתל
 כדאי לבוא ולהזמין חברות, משפחה ושכנות

Mark your calendar, and join us.  
You're welcome to join our facebook page. Tel Shiloh is open to visitors daily. Tours can be arranged through the Shiloh HaKeduma, Ancient Shiloh office. Email visit@telshilo.org.il  or phone 02-994-4019.



5 comments:

Miriam-Feyga Bunimovich said...

I really like the first pic

rachel said...

If there was a Sanhedrin iy"H we would determine Adar Bet insertions by observation of the barley harvest, which would have justified a shana meuberet in 2012. In my opinion, we must at some level keep in mind that while our calendar is mathematically derived from the genius of a prophetic sage, it is Hashem's original intent and deepest Will that the luminaries and signs of His natural order be the basis by which we determine our Chagim. A prayer and a hope for redemption, in our times.

Batya said...

Miriam, thanks, nothing like Shiloh!

rachel, good point
Nowadays people like to plan years in advance, so we can't go all the way back to the monthly announcements.

Shy Guy said...

Everything that Rachel said!

We are already messed up with Molad calculations. Read this article, just to give you an idea.

I forgot where the Chafetz Chayim mentions it in the Mishnah Brura but he knew that sometime back in the 80's (I think), something was going to be very out of synch with the Molad. The Chofetz Chayim reassured his readers that surely by that time, Hashem would send mashiach to Am Yisrael and Kiddush Hachodesh will have been reinstituted. Sigh. :(

If anyone can reference where the Chofetz Chayim said this, that would be greatly appreciated.

Batya said...

Moshiach was here in Iyyar/Sivan almost 48 years ago, but was sent packing when Moshe Dayan gave the Muslims the key to Har Habayit.