5785 - The Rarest Year of Them All Part VII
Purim Meshulash
As detailed in previous installments in our series, our current year, 5785, is not only a rare one, but calendarically speaking, actually the hands-downrarest of them all. 5785 is classified as a HaSh”A year in our calendars. This abbreviation is referring to Rosh Hashana falling out on Thursday (hei), both months of Cheshvan and Kislev being shalem (shin - 30 day months instead of possibly 29; these are the only months that can switch off in our set calendar), and Pesach falling out on Sunday (aleph).
A HaSh”A year is the rarest of years, and out of the 14 possibilities in Tur’s 247-year calendar cycle, this year type occurs on average only once in about 30.19 years (approximately 3.3 percent of the time). Indeed, at times there are 71 years (!) in between HaSh”A years. The last time this year type occurred was 31 years ago in 5754 / 1994. The next time will be 20 years hence in 5805 / 2044. The next several times after that are slated to be 27 years further, in 5832 / 2071 and then a 51-year gap in 5883 / 2122.
The reasons and rules governing the whys and whens this transpires are too complicated for this discussion; suffice to say that when the Mishnah Berurah discusses these issues he writes “ain kan makom l’ha’arich,” that this is not the place to expound in detail, which is certainly good enough for this author.
Obviously, such a rare calendar year will contain many rare occurrences. This series sets out to detail many of them. As we get nearer to the actual events, we will perhaps discuss them in greater detail. Let’s continue on our journey through our unique year.
Purim Shechal B’Erev Shabbos
As we are already up to discussing the Purim season, the next calendar quirk has significant importance. You see, in 5785, as the first of Adar was on Shabbos, then Purim, fourteen days later, will fall out on Friday. For most of us worldwide this will mean a rushed day to pack in all of the Purim-day Mitzvos before the onset Shabbos. Indeed, the Rema (O.C. 695:2) writes that on a Purim Shechal B’Erev Shabbos, we should start the Purim Seudah before Chatzos – halachic high noon. However, if that is not feasible, the Mishnah Berurah (ad loc. 10) cites the Yad Efraim quoting the Maharil, that in this situation; one has a bit more time to start his Purim Seudah - until the beginning of the tenth hour - three halachic hours before shkiya. This is due to the halacha that one may not eat a Seudas Keva – a set meal within three halachic hours prior to the onset of Shabbos, as this will impugn Kavod Shabbos.
However, it is reported that Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv was makpid lechatchilla like the Rema’s ruling to start his Erev Shabbos Purim Seudah before Chatzos, unless the Seudah was not ready. Similarly, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach refers to this as ‘minhag hamedakdekim’ to serve the Erev Shabbos Purim Seudah before Chatzos. The Steipler Gaon did so as well, even finishing before Mincha Gedolah, adding that ‘Simchas Purim continues afterwards.’
Yet, it is important to note that if one was unable to start his Seudah before the tenth hour on this Erev Shabbos Purim, he should still eat his Purim Seudah then since it is considered a “Mitzvah B’Shaatah,” A Mitzvah in its proper time, which although not optimal at that specific time, nevertheless trumps the prohibition of not starting a Seudah within three halachic hours of Shabbos. However, one should not stuff himself at this Seudah and minimize bread consumption, in order to save some room for the upcoming Seudas Shabbos.
Purim Meshulash!
Yet, for those fortunate enough to live in Yerushalayim (or other walled cities from the time of Yehoshua Bin Nun) where Purim is celebrated on the next day, Shushan Purim, which falls out on Shabbos, this unique set of circumstances triggers the incredible Purim Meshulash, or “Triple Purim,” a rare three-day Purim extravaganza. Thislast occurred four years ago in 5781/2021, and before that, thirteen years prior, back in 5768/2008, and prior to that in 5765/2005 and 5761/2001, and is next expected in 20 years, in 5805/2045, and then three years later in 5808/2048.
This rare occurrence is due to the famous Gezeiras Chazal regarding Shofar and Lulav, that due to the Megillah obligation, one may unwittingly carry it on Shabbos outside the permitted Reshus to an expert. This dictum is found throughout Shas – i.e. see the Mishnah and following Gemara in Rosh Hashana (29b), Beitzah (17b-18a), Megillah (4b), Pesachim (69a), and Sukka (42b).
Hence, the Megillah may not be read on Shabbos; ergo, Purim’s Mitzvos get divvied up to the surrounding days.
It is important to note that this three-day Purim Meshulash is not an actual three-day Yom Tov. Each separate day possesses unique observances of Purimexclusive to it, with the different Mitzvos of Purim applying separately on Friday, Shabbos, and Sunday.
Friday’s Mitzvos are the Megillah reading and Matanos L’Evyonim - following the rest of the world.
Shabbos, the actual day of Shushan Purim, has the recitation of Al Hanissim and the special Purim Maftir (“Vayavo Amalek”; Parashas Beshalach, Shemos Ch. 17:8), as well as the haftarah of Parashas Zachor (“Pakaditi”;Shmuel I Ch. 15:2) read a second time (two weeks in a row!).
There is also a special inyan to learn Hilchos Purim on this Shabbos Shushan Purim. As the Gemara Megillah concludes (32a), Moshe Rabbeinu enactedto be “Sho’elin U’Darshin B’Inyano shel Yom” – to learn each Yom Tov’s halachos on the Yom Tov itself. Hence, since Shabbos is the actual day of Purim for those observing Purim Meshulash, this requirement is on Shabbos this year. Generally speaking, this requirement is fulfilled by reading the Megillah (which, toward the end, discusses the Mitzvos Hayom). But this year, as the Megillah is read on the same day of Purim as the rest of the world – it is not the actual ‘Bo Bayom’ of Shushan Purim; hence the need to mention this as a distinct inyan of its own.
Sunday’s Mitzvos are Mishloach Manos and the festive Purim Seudah.
Yes, as one who has celebrated a few over the years, there is nothing quite like the incredible joy of a Purim Meshulash. An exceptional holiday for an exceptional year. And, after this year, we will have to wait a full score until we will get a chance to experience it again.
Our fascinating journey detailing the many remarkable facets of our rare year will IY”H be continued…
Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch famously wrote that “the Jew’s catechism is his calendar.” It is this author’s wish that by showcasing the uniqueness of our calendar year and its rare minhagim, this series will help raise appreciation of them and our fascinating calendarical customs.
This author wishes to thank R’ Yosef Yehuda Weber, author of ‘Understanding the Jewish Calendar,’ for being a fount of calendarical knowledge and for his assistance with this series.
Disclaimer: This is not a comprehensive guide, rather a brief summary to raise awareness of the issues. In any real case one should ask a competent Halachic authority.
L'iluy Nishmas the Rosh HaYeshiva - Rav Chonoh Menachem Mendel ben R' Yechezkel Shraga, Rav Yaakov Yeshaya ben R' Boruch Yehuda.
