Living Torah Archives

A rally celebrating Purim Katan. On the Hebrew calendar, a leap year means adding a second month of Adar. Purim is celebrated on the second month, and Purim Katan - the mini Purim, is marked during the first month of Adar.

According to the Jewish calendar, a second month of Adar is added in a leap year. While Purim is usually celebrated in Adar, during a leap year it is postponed until the second Adar, and we mark Purim Katan—“the small Purim”—in the first month.

The Rebbe participates in a lively children’s rally on Purim Katan in 770.

Song lyrics: “Do not fear sudden terror, nor the destruction of the wicked when it comes. Contrive a scheme, but it will be foiled; conspire a plot, but it will not materialize, for G-d is with us.” (From the Daily Prayers)

The verse states: “Out of the mouths of children and infants You, G-d, have established strength to silence the enemy and the avenger.” When a Jew strives to grow in Torah and Mitzvos, the evil inclination approaches him in one of two ways: As an open “enemy” – clearly trying to convince him to stray from G-d’s path, or as “an avenger” – hiding his evil intentions in a veil of concern: “If you do just this one sin, it will actually make it easier for you to come closer to G-d.”

“Do not fear sudden terror, nor the destruction of the wicked when it comes. Contrive a scheme, but it will be foiled; conspire a plot, but it will not materialize, for G-d is with us.” From the daily prayers

Torah emphasizes the advantage of “smallness”: Jacob was “the small one.” And we are all preparing to greet Moshiach, son of David, and “David is the smallest.” On a leap year we celebrate a ‘Small Purim’ As well as a ‘Small Shushan Purim’.