The Four Parshiot

Prayer

"The four parshiot" refers to four unique Torah selections that are read in synagogues, after the regular weekly Torah portion, before and throughout the Hebrew month of Adar. The four parshiot are: shekalim, read on the Shabbat before the month of Adar, zakhor, read on the Shabbat before the holiday of Purim, parah, generally read on the Shabbat after Purim, and hachodesh, read on the Shabbat before the Hebrew month of Nisan.

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The Four Special Shabbatot

MISHNAH

The Mishnah provides detailed instructions on the special Torah readings for the four Shabbatot surrounding the month of Adar. This passage from the Mishnah outlines the procedural details and timing for reading the four parshiot, including adjustments based on the New Moon of Adar.

On four Shabbatot during and surround-ing the month of Adar, a Torah portion of seasonal significance is read. When the New Moon of Adar occurs on Shabbat, the congregation reads the portion of Shekalim on that Shabbat. If the New Moon occurs during the middle of the week, they advance the reading of that portion to the previous Shabbat, and, in such a case, they interrupt the reading of the four portions on the following Shabbat, which would be the first Shabbat of the month of Adar, and no additional portion is read on it…

Mishnah Megillah 3:4

The Obligation of Women to Hear Parashat Zakhor

HALAKHAH

The debate among Jewish legal decisors about whether women are obligated to hear Parashat Zakhor reveals differing opinions on the connection between the mitzva to remember Amalek and the mitzva to eradicate Amalek, and whether it is a time-bound mitzva. Rabbi Eliezer Melamed’s contemporary work explores these debates, providing a thorough presentation of practical Jewish law.

The poskim disagree about whether women must hear Parashat Zakhor. According to most poskim, women are exempt because the mitzva to remember what Amalek did is linked to the mitzva to eradicate Amalek, and since women are not commanded to fight in wars, they need not remember what Amalek did to the Israelites (Sefer Ha-Ḥinukh §603). Others maintain that women have a connection to the mitzva of war since they must assist the fighters, and therefore the mitzva to remember Amalek applies to them too…

Peninei Halakhah, Women's Prayer 23:6:2

The Journey of the Four Parshiot

CHASIDUT

The four parshiot guide us from arousing the good to defeating evil and achieving genuine repentance. Rebbe Nathan Sternhartz of Nemirov, a prominent Breslov Chasidic leader, explores the sequential and thematic connections between these special Shabbat readings.

This is why after Parashat Shekalim, which signifies arousing the good, we read Parashat Zakhor, which enables us to defeat the evil that is Amalek. After that passage about Amalek, on the third Shabbat we read Parashat Parah, whose verses expound the laws relating to the parah adumah, the red cow. It relates to the mitzvah of teshuvah, as illustrated in the Midrash’s teaching on those verses, “Let its mother come and clean up after her child…

Likutei Halakhot, Orach Chaim, Laws of Morning Conduct 1:12:7-8

Timing the Reading of the Red Heifer

TALMUD

The timing of reading the portion of the Red Heifer (Para) is linked both to the New Moon of Nisan and to Purim, which precedes it. The Talmudic tractate Megillah details the rabbinic discussion of the timing for the reading of the portion of Para.

§ The mishna states: On the third Shabbat, they read the portion of the Red Heifer [Para] (Numbers 19:1–22). The Sages taught in a baraita: Which is the third Shabbat? Whichever Shabbat occurs immediately after Purim. It was also stated: Rabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, said: The Shabbat that is immediately before the New Moon of Nisan. The Gemara comments: And these two statements do not disagree, as they refer to different cases: This statement of Rabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina…

Megillah 30a:22-23

Parshat Zachor vs. Megillat Esther

COMMENTARY

The reading of Parshas Zachor is to be done with a quorum. The Mishnah Berurah, a key halachic commentary, discusses different opinions on which has priority, Parashat Zachor or Megillat Esther, in a situation when one can fulfill only one of them with a quorum.

(16) To a place that has a quorum etc - This is even in a case where he has a Sefer Torah in his house, but there isn't a quorum in his house, and even if you say that a quorum is only rabbinically ordained nevertheless the essence of reading the reading of Parshas Zachor is biblically ordained. And behold, in the TERUMAS HADESHEN it is written that the hearing of the reading of Parshas Zachor with a quorum of ten is more preferable than the recitation of Megillah in a congregation because for the recitation of the Megillah, according the majority of halachic decisors…

Mishnah Berurah 685:16

Rehabilitating the Temple

COMMENTARY

The story of King Yeho’ash’s rehabilitation of the Beit HaMikdash from the Book of Kings is read as the haftarah for Parashat Shekalim. This contemporary study explores the connections between these two sections of Tanakh, beyond the most obvious commonality of fundraising.

Every year on Shabbat Parashat Shekalim, we read the story of Yeho’ash Melech Yehudah’s rehabilitation of the Beit HaMikdash (Melachim II 11-12). The connection to Shabbat Shekalim appears to most as simply the theme of raising funds to support the Mishkan and the Beit HaMikdash. However, a careful examination of the story yields a much deeper connection to Parashat Shekalim and the heralding of Rosh Chodesh Adar.

From David to Destruction, Elisha and the Northern Kingdom, Yeho'ash Renovates the Beit HaMikdash; Shabbat Shekalim 2

The Timing of Parashat Zakhor

MUSAR

The order of reading Parashat Zakhor before the 14th of Adar is associated with with a sequence of verbs in a verse in the Book of Esther. Rabbi Isaiah HaLevi Horowitz, in his 17th-century work Shenei Luchot HaBerit, discusses the significance of this timing and the dispute between Rav and Shmuel on the matter.

We are told in 28,12 that Aaron was to wear the two gemstones on which the names of the twelve tribes were engraved on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod לפני ה' על שתי כתיפיו לזכרון, "on the two shoulder-pieces for remembrance before the Lord." This is an allusion to the events surrounding Purim of which we read in Esther 9,28 that "these days will be remembered and celebrated." This is a clear reference to the commandment to remember and never to forget what Amalek did to the Jewish people after they had crossed the sea and found themselves in the desert…

Shenei Luchot HaBerit, Torah Shebikhtav, Tetzaveh, Torah Ohr 66

Commemorating the Half-Shekel

HALAKHAH

Even though the Temple no longer stands, the commemoration of the half-shekel contribution for communal offerings connects Jews to their historical and communal responsibilities. Parashat Shekalim, read on the Shabbat before or on Rosh Chodesh Adar, serves as a reminder of the half-shekel contribution for communal offerings in the Temple.

The first of the four parshiyot is Parashat Shekalim (Shemot 28:9-15). This parsha was instituted to remind every Jew to contribute the yearly half-shekel, which was used to purchase communal offerings. Since it was necessary to begin purchasing the offerings with the new funds in Nisan, the Sages instituted the reading of Parashat Shekalim a month earlier, to remind everyone to make his donation. Even though the Temple is in ruins today, and we do not have the privilege of bringing sacrifices…

Peninei Halakhah, Zemanim 14:2:4

Preparing for Pesach with the Chapter of Parah

CHASIDUT

Reading the Chapter of Parah helps prepare oneself for Pesach by ensuring ritual purity from corpse impurity. Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, in his early 19th-century work Likutei Moharan, emphasizes the importance of this reading as a preparatory step for the Pesach sacrifice.

After Purim we read the Chapter of Parah, which is a preparation for Pesach. The Chapter of Parah is read so that people will be alerted to purify themselves from the impurity of a corpse, in order to be ritually pure for offering the Pesach sacrifice.

Likutei Moharan, Part II 74:1:1

Special Shabbat Readings

TOSEFTA

The Tosefta lists the additional readings from the Prophets that accompany each of the four special Torah portions leading up to Passover. This early rabbinic text outlines the special Torah readings and their corresponding readings from the Prophets for the four Shabbatot known as the 'Four Parshiot,' including considerations for when Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbat or Erev Shabbat.

[When] Rosh Chodesh Adar falls on Shabbat, we read the portion of "Shekalim" (Ex. 30:11-16) and in addition we read the portion of the shekalim that concerns Yehoyada the Kohen (commencing with 2 Kings 12:8). What is the "first Shabbat"? Any Rosh Chodesh Adar falls within [that designation], even on Erev Shabbat. On the second Shabbat, [we read the portion beginning] "Remember [what Amalek did]" (Deut. 25:17) and additionally we read "Thus said the Lord of Hosts, I remember what Amelek did to Israel" (1 Sam. 15:2)…

Tosefta Megillah 3:1

The Special Torah Portions of Adar

GUIDES

The special Torah portions read during the Shabbatot around the month of Adar are discussed in tractate Megillah of the Talmud. Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz introduces this section of the tractate in his commentary on the Talmud.

Another issue dealt with at length in this chapter is the reading of the special Torah portions at various points throughout the year. First discussed are the four special Torah portions read on the Shabbatot during and immediately prior to the month of Adar. Which passages of the Torah are selected for those portions, and what are the determining factors regarding which portion is read on which Shabbat? Following this, the chapter focuses on which portions are read on the various Festivals and other special days throughout the year.

Introductions to the Babylonian Talmud, Megillah, Introduction to Perek IV 4

The opening of Piyyut HaYotzer to Parashat Shekalim in the Worms cycle according to the Ashkenazi custom written in Wurzburg in the year 1272. Attributed to Rabbi Elazar Birbi Kalir. An illustrated cover includes Paintings of animals and a man carrying scales.

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Annihilating the Memory of Amalek

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