Spirituality: TODAY'S LAWS & CUSTOMS

TODAY'S LAWS & CUSTOMS

• ROSH CHODESH OBSERVANCES
Today is the second of the two Rosh Chodesh ("Head of the Month") days
for the month of Adar I (this year being a leap year there are two
months called "Adar" -- Adar I and Adar II).

Special portions are added to the daily prayers: Hallel (Psalms
113-118) is recited -- in its "partial" form -- following the
Shacharit morning prayer, and the Yaaleh V'yavo prayer is added to the
Amidah and to Grace After Meals; the additional Musaf prayer is said
(when Rosh Chodesh is Shabbat, special additions are made to the
Shabbat Musaf). Tachnun (confession of sins) and similar prayers are
omitted.

Many have the custom to mark Rosh Chodesh with a festive meal and
reduced work activity. The latter custom is prevalent amongst women,
who have a special affinity with Rosh Chodesh -- the month being the
feminine aspect of the Jewish Calendar.




• LEAP YEAR
This year is a shanah meuberet (lit., "a pregnant year") or a leap
year on the Jewish calendar. The Jewish leap year, which occurs 7
times in a 19-year cycle, has 13 months instead of the regular year's
12. This is so that the lunar-based Jewish year should remain aligned
with the solar seasons (12 lunar months make up a total of 354 days --
slightly more than 11 days short of the 365.25 day solar cycle). The
added month is called "Adar I" and is inserted before the month of
Adar (termed "Adar II" in leap years).

The festival of Purim celebrated on Adar 14, is in Adar II on leap
years, while the 14th of the Adar I is marked only as "Purim Minor."
Similarly, birthdays and most other anniversaries are marked on the
2nd Adar.