Parashat Ki Tisa A weekly feature of Torah Tidbits to help clarify practical and conceptual aspects of the Jewish Calendar, thereby better fulfilling the mitzva of HaChodesh HaZeh Lachem... More on the two Adars... Last week's column focused on the two Adars in the time of Sanhedrin. To continue... First and foremost, the select committee for determining IBUR HASHANA would calculate when astronomical spring will begin. If T'kufat Nissan a.k.a. the vernal equinox will fall on the 16th of Nissan or later, then the committee MUST declare the month following Adar to be Adar again, so that Pesach (actually, the fullness of Nissan's moon) will be in the spring. The committee has no discretion on this factor. The Torah requires that Pesach be in the Spring. The calculation could have been made at any time - not just during the year in question. But no action could be taken to intercalate the year until after Rosh haShana, and preferably, during the regular Adar. We too could make the same calculation and know with certitude that the year will be M'UBERET. But that's just for our knowledge. It isn't a Shana M'uberet until the Sanhedrin says so. If the T'kufa issue is okay, the committee then determines if Spring is really on its way. (more to come) Years from 1900 to 2100 (not inclusive of either year) with Feb.29 and 2 Adars: 1908, '16, '24, '32, '40, '48, '76, '84, '92, 2000, '08, '16, '24, '52, '60, '68, '76, '84, '92. That's a pattern of 8,8,8,8,8,28,8,8,8,8,8,28,8,8,8,8,8 years.
[The Ki Tisa Homepage]
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