Related reading: The Month of Adar II: Calendar, Holidays, Torah Portions, and Meaning and The Month of Adar: Calendar, Holidays, Torah Portions, and Meaning.
Adar I appears only in a Hebrew leap year, which is why it is one of the months that most often confuses calendar users. Is it already Purim? What is Purim Katan? Why are there both Adar I and Adar II? And which Torah portions are read during this period? This page gives a clear educational answer: Adar I is a month of preparation, expanded time, and quiet joy before the full celebration of Purim in Adar II.
This guide is for parents, teachers, students, and Bible Quiz leaders: what makes Adar I special, which dates should be marked on the calendar, how it differs from Adar II, which themes are useful for family learning, and how to turn the month into a lively quiz about Jewish time, joy, responsibility, and the Mishkan portions.
In Brief: What Happens in Adar I?
Adar I is the added month in a Hebrew leap year. The Hebrew calendar adds a month in order to keep the months aligned with the seasons, especially so that Passover remains in the spring. In a leap year there are two months of Adar: Adar I and Adar II. Purim itself is observed in Adar II, but in Adar I we mark Purim Katan on 14 Adar I and Shushan Purim Katan on 15 Adar I.
The month includes several key points:
- 1 Adar I: Rosh Chodesh Adar I
- 14 Adar I: Purim Katan
- 15 Adar I: Shushan Purim Katan
- 30 Adar I: the second day of Rosh Chodesh Adar II, when the month has 30 days
- Shabbatot in Adar I: usually around Terumah, Tetzaveh, Ki Tisa, Vayakhel, and Pekudei, depending on the year
- Main learning themes: leap years, joy, preparation for Purim, giving, the Mishkan, Jewish time, and the connection between Purim and Passover
- Bible Quiz connection: questions about the Hebrew calendar, the two Adars, Purim Katan, the Mishkan portions, and the half-shekel
Adar I is especially suited to an educational conversation about time. Sometimes added time is not a delay; it is an opportunity to prepare better.
Adar I Calendar: Key Dates
An Adar I page should present a clear monthly calendar with Hebrew and Gregorian dates for each day, Rosh Chodesh, Purim Katan, Shushan Purim Katan, the Shabbatot of the month, the weekly Torah portion, and a link to a related quiz.
| Hebrew date | Milestone | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Adar I | Rosh Chodesh Adar I | The opening of the added month in a Hebrew leap year |
| 14 Adar I | Purim Katan | Marks the Purim date in the first Adar, without the full Purim mitzvot of Adar II |
| 15 Adar I | Shushan Purim Katan | The parallel to Shushan Purim, especially in the context of Jerusalem and walled cities |
| Shabbatot of the month | Weekly Torah portions | Usually around the Mishkan portions and the end of Exodus, depending on the year |
| 30 Adar I | Rosh Chodesh Adar II | The day connecting Adar I to Adar II in a leap year |
In 5787, for example, 1 Adar I falls on Monday, February 8, 2027. Purim Katan falls on 14 Adar I and begins at sundown on Saturday, February 20, 2027. Shushan Purim Katan falls on 15 Adar I and begins on the evening of Sunday, February 21, 2027. Annual dates, Shabbat times, and Torah-portion divisions should be loaded on the site from a reliable, up-to-date calendar source.
What Is the Meaning of Adar I?
Adar I is a month of breathing room. It is not an "extra" month in the casual sense; it is part of how the Hebrew calendar connects time, season, and meaning. Without a leap year, the months would slowly drift away from the seasons. Adding Adar I protects the Jewish rhythm: Purim stays close to Passover, and Passover remains the festival of spring.
Educationally, Adar I is a beautiful month for speaking about preparation. Purim has not yet fully arrived, but its atmosphere is already beginning to appear. There is time to learn the Book of Esther, meet the characters, talk about joy that is more than noise, and connect the Mishkan portions to shared giving.
It is also a month that helps children understand a complex idea through a simple experience: sometimes the year receives a "breathing month" so that the holidays stay in their proper place. From there, a family or classroom can open a conversation about patience, order, preparation, and turning added time into opportunity.
Purim Katan and Shushan Purim Katan
Purim Katan falls on 14 Adar I in a leap year. It reminds us that the calendar date of Purim has already appeared, but the actual observance of Purim - Megillah reading, gifts to the poor, food gifts, and the Purim meal - belongs to Adar II. The Mishnah in Megillah highlights the key difference between the first Adar and the second Adar in relation to Megillah reading and gifts to the poor.
An educational page should therefore present Purim Katan this way:
- It marks 14 Adar I in a leap year
- It does not include the full mitzvot of Purim in Adar II
- It invites learning about joy, preparation, and the memory of Purim
- On 15 Adar I, Shushan Purim Katan is marked as the parallel to Shushan Purim
- The page should direct users to the Purim page and the Adar II page to understand when the full Purim observances take place
The wording should remain careful: detailed customs and halachic practice can vary by community and authority, so this page explains the educational and calendar framework rather than replacing personal halachic guidance.
Torah Portions in Adar I
The Torah portions in Adar I vary by year, but in leap years the month often falls around the end of Exodus:
- Terumah - the building of the Mishkan begins with generous giving
- Tetzaveh - the priestly garments, the light of the menorah, and sacred service
- Ki Tisa - the half-shekel, the Golden Calf, and the possibility of repair
- Vayakhel - the gathering of the people and shared giving for the Mishkan
- Pekudei - the completion of the Mishkan and the presence of the Divine
This sequence works well for a Bible Quiz. Adar I speaks about preparing for Purim, while the Torah portions speak about preparing a place of holiness. Both ask a similar question: how do many individuals become one community acting together?
Family Learning Themes and Practices
Adar I invites short learning around several themes:
- Leap year: why does the Hebrew calendar add a month?
- Purim Katan: what is marked on 14 Adar I, and what remains for Adar II?
- Joy: how do we begin building joy before the festival itself?
- Preparation: what should we learn from the Book of Esther before Purim?
- Giving: how do the half-shekel, the Mishkan, and gifts to the poor connect?
- Jerusalem: why is 15 Adar connected to Shushan Purim and Jerusalem?
- Jewish time: how does the calendar connect holidays, seasons, Torah portions, and family life?
For children, offer a simple Adar I mission: choose one value for the approach to Purim - courage, giving, unity, or joy - and find it both in the Book of Esther and in the weekly Torah portion.
Questions for Children and an Adar I Quiz
The page can include a short quiz that updates by week or date:
- When does the month of Adar I appear?
- Why is an extra month added in a Hebrew leap year?
- What is the difference between Adar I and Adar II?
- On which date is Purim Katan marked?
- On which date is Shushan Purim Katan marked?
- In which month is Purim actually observed during a leap year?
- Which Torah portion discusses the half-shekel?
- What can the Mishkan portions teach about shared giving?
- Why is it important for Purim to remain close to Passover?
- What joyful mission can begin already in Adar I?
Call to action: Start the Adar I quiz and choose a track by age - children, teens, families, or classrooms.
Recommended Page Experience
To serve both quick search intent and deeper learning, the page should function as a monthly tool:
- Monthly view with Hebrew and Gregorian dates for each day
- Markers for Rosh Chodesh Adar I, Purim Katan, and Shushan Purim Katan
- A clear distinction between Adar I and Adar II
- Print or PDF button for the Adar I calendar
- "Torah Portion in Adar I" module based on the selected year
- Activity area: questions about leap years, Purim Katan, and the Mishkan portions
- Quick links to the Hebrew calendar, today's Hebrew date, weekly Torah portion, and Shabbat times
- A short daily or weekly quiz for children and families
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Adar I occur?
Adar I appears only in a Hebrew leap year. In a regular Hebrew year there is only one Adar.
How many days are in Adar I?
Adar I has 30 days. Its thirtieth day is also the first day of Rosh Chodesh Adar II.
When is Purim celebrated in a leap year?
In a leap year, Purim is celebrated in Adar II. Adar I includes Purim Katan on 14 Adar I and Shushan Purim Katan on 15 Adar I.
What happens on Purim Katan?
Purim Katan marks 14 Adar I, but it does not include the full Purim mitzvot such as Megillah reading and gifts to the poor. It is a good day for learning, modest joy, and preparation for Purim in Adar II.
What is the difference between Purim Katan and Shushan Purim Katan?
Purim Katan falls on 14 Adar I, and Shushan Purim Katan falls on 15 Adar I. The distinction parallels the difference between Purim in most places and Shushan Purim in Jerusalem and walled cities.
Which Torah portions are read in Adar I?
The portions vary by year, but Adar I is usually around the end of Exodus: Terumah, Tetzaveh, Ki Tisa, Vayakhel, and Pekudei. The exact order should be checked in the weekly Torah portion calendar for the selected year.
How can Adar I connect to a Bible Quiz?
You can include questions about leap years, the two months of Adar, Purim Katan, Purim in Adar II, the Mishkan portions, the half-shekel, and the connection between joy and giving.
Adar I Quiz Idea
Quiz name: "Adar I: An Added Month, Added Joy"
Suggested structure: 12 questions in three stages - the Hebrew calendar and leap year, Purim Katan and Shushan Purim Katan, and the Mishkan portions. At the end, the user receives an "Adar I mission": choose one action that prepares the home or classroom for Purim - learning Esther, an act of giving, a family question, or a quiz card - and complete it before Rosh Chodesh Adar II.
Recommended Schema Markup
Add Article, BreadcrumbList, and FAQ Page schema. If a print or PDF feature is implemented, add a short HowTo schema explaining how to choose a leap year, display Adar I, and print the calendar.