The Month Adar

(Assyro-Babylonian, Addaru) (29 Days)

February/March (Pulling flax, almonds blooming).

Ezra 6:15; Esther 3:7; 1 Macc 7:43

12^th month of the religious calendar.

6^th month of the civil calendar.

Adar 1 � New Moon

Adar 14-15 � Feast of Purim (Esther 9:21)

During this month rainy days and sunny days alternated frequently. This is why the Arabs would call this month "the one eyed" because it had a dark face on one side and a bright one on the other. They would also say "February has no bounds" and "the storms have the smell of summer in it." During this month the almond trees begin to blossom and the late barley seeds are sown.

Note: Adar Sheni was the intercalary month.

Adar 7 - Commemorates the death of Moses. According to Josephus the death of Moses used to be remembered on the first day of Adar.

Adar 9 - Fast day remembering the arguments of the students the schools of Hillel and Shammai on the 7th day of the month.

Adar 13 � Fast of Esther, commemorating Queen Esther's fast.

Note: Adar 13 was originally a festival called Nicanor Day, commemorating the death of Nicanor, the Syrian general in the Maccabean war who insulted the Jews and the sanctuary, which caused the Jews to rebel.