Sabbath before Purim, שבת זכור (Deut. xxv. 17–19).
13th: תענית אסתר “Fast of Esther.”
14th: Purim, פורים “The Feast of Lots.”
15th: שושן פורים “Purim of Shushan.”
The last Sabbath but one, שבת פרה Num. xix. is read as an extra
lesson.
The last Sabbath in the month, or the first of Nisan, if on
Saturday, is שבת החודש Exod. xii. 1–20 is read as an extra
lesson.
[13. Adar Sheni.—שושן פורים, שבת זכור, תענית אסתר, פורים שבת
פרה, and שבת החדש which in an ordinary year are observed in Adar,
are in a leap-year kept in Adar Sheni; and שבת שקלים either on the
last Sabbath in Adar, or on the first of Adar Sheni, if on Saturday.]
Note.—The 15th of Shebhat is, according to the opinion of the
Hillelites (Mishnah, Rosh ha-shanah i. 1), “New-year for the trees;”
i.e., in reference to tithes, and to the fruit of the fourth or fifth
year (Lev. xix. 24, 25); the fruit that begins to grow on a tree
between the 15th of Shebhat of one year and the same date next year is
reckoned as the fruit of one year.
Various reasons are given for the distinction of the 15th of Ab: (a.)
The punishment decreed against the Israelites in the wilderness in
connection with the spies (Num. xiv. 29) was discontinued from the 15th
of Ab. (b.) The posts set up by Jeroboam on the borders of his kingdom
for the purpose of preventing Israelites from going up to Jerusalem
were removed on this date. (c.) The preparation of the wood for the
altar was completed on the 15th of Ab. (d.) On this day the Israelites
obtained permission to bury the bodies of those killed in the war
against Hadrian. (e.) The reconciliation between the Benjamites and the
other Israelites took place on the 15th of Ab (Judges xxi. 21 sqq.).
The Mishnah (Taanith iv. 8) states that the 15th of Ab and the Day of
Atonement were to the Israelites once days of the greatest national
rejoicings for all alike, rich and poor. In memory of these general
rejoicings the daughters of Jerusalem wore on these days borrowed white
garments, in order that those poor who had none of their own should not
feel ashamed. The Mishnah then describes the causes of the rejoicings;
namely, the dancings in the vineyards (Judges, l. c.) for the 15th of
Ab, and the giving of the Law (i.e., the giving of the second tables,
which, according to Tradition, took place on the 10th of Tishri), and
the building of the Temple (i.e., the rearing of the Tabernacle, which,
according to Tradition, was commanded on the 10th of Tishri for the
rejoicings on the Day of Atonement).