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Pre-Purim Observances

Purim is preceded by two special Torah readings and a fast day. Find out their significance and associated traditions.

Shekalim
The Torah reading of the Shabbat that falls on or before Adar is supplemented with G‑d's commandment to Moses regarding the giving of the half-shekel.
Zachor
When the Israelites left Egypt, no nation dared pick a fight with them. Only Amalek, driven by profound hatred which defied logic, came to wage battle.
Prep Up to Purim
The Shabbat before Purim is Shabbat Zachor. The day before Purim (in most years) is the Fast of Esther. Learn about the significance of these days and their associated observances.
The Fast of Esther (Taanit Esther)
The Fast of Esther is a dawn-to-nightfall fast held on the day before the jolly holiday of Purim, commemorating the fasting of our ancestors in response to the dramatic chain of events that occurred during their exile in the Persian empire.
The Laws of Giving a Half of Shekel
Machatzit HaShekel
In commemoration of the custom in the Holy Temple to give charity towards its building, we give coins half the value of the countrie's currency once a year
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