Purim (14 Adar) & Shushan Purim (15 Adar) This year we are in a Jewish leap, therefore we have two months of Adar -- Adar Aleph (1) and Adar Bet (2). This gives me an opportunity to write twice as much about the holiday of Purim, as I can divide it up between the next two bulletins. The March portion will be about Purim Katan days that have evolved throughout history.

This year (2003), is a Jewish leap year, a year in which an entire month (Adar Aleph) is added. During leap years, Purim is observed during Adar Bet (2), which is considered to be the regular month of Adar because it is followed by the month of Nissan. Those of us not in cities that had walls at the time of Yehoshua, will celebrate Purim on Monday night, March 17, and Tuesday, March 18, 2003. Those privileged enough to be in Jerusalem and/or other cities that had walls at the time of Yehoshua, or in Shushan HaBirah, because that was the site of the miracle, will celebrate Purim on Tuesday night/Wednesday, March 18/19, 2003.

PURIM KATAN - Little Purim

The 14th and 15th of Adar Aleph on a leap year are traditionally called Little Purim. On these days, we are supposed to celebrate, it is forbidden to mourn or fast and we omit certain prayers.

TRIPLE PURIM

Sometimes Purim falls on a Friday, therefore making the next day, Shabbat, Shushan Purim. However, it is forbidden to read the Megilla on Shabbat and, of course, Shabbat cannot be postponed because of Purim.

So, in Jerusalem, Purim is pushed off a day and the reading of the Megilla and the main festivities are held on Sunday (the 16th of Adar). However, both that Friday and that Sabbath take on a festive atmosphere. In this way, the holiday is felt and marked in Jerusalem for three days and therefore Purim in such a year is called there Triple Purim -- the Purim lasting three days.

Other Purims

Learning from the Purim experience, a custom has evolved for Jewish communities to celebrate the anniversary of their escape from destruction. These special communal Purims are also called Purim Katan, A Little Purim.

This is a day of rejoicing, feasting and the distribution of gifts that Jewish communities, families or even individuals set aside in commemoration of a miraculous event through which they were rescued from catastrophe or destruction or from evil and oppressive edicts.

There are such festivities that are established for a definite period of years and others that are to continue through all the generations. These were called Second Purim and an effort was made to celebrate them like the first Purim following the pattern that Mordecai and Esther established for all the generations.