Related reading: The Month of Iyar: Calendar, Holidays, Torah Portions, and Meaning and The Month of Elul: Calendar, Selichot, Shofar, Torah Portions, and Meaning.

Adar is the month when the Hebrew calendar changes its rhythm. After the quieter winter months comes a month of joy, community, story, costumes, giving, and memory. Purim stands at the heart of the month, but Adar is not only one day on the calendar. It invites a full month of learning about the Book of Esther, mutual responsibility, courage, prayer, rescue, and the ability to see how reality can turn toward good.

This monthly guide is for parents, teachers, students, and Bible Quiz leaders: what is marked in Adar, what changes in a regular year versus a leap year, which Torah portions are usually read during the month, and how to turn Adar into a lively, joyful, meaningful quiz for children and families.

In Brief: What Happens in Adar?

Adar is the twelfth month when counting from Nisan. In a regular Hebrew year there is one month of Adar, and it has 29 days. In a leap year there are two months: Adar I and Adar II. In most Purim-related contexts, when the year is a leap year, Purim is observed in Adar II.

The month includes several important points:

Adar is especially suited to learning that begins with experience: a costume, a mishloach manot package, a good question about the Megillah, and a short conversation about real courage.

Adar Calendar: Key Dates

An Adar page should offer a clear monthly calendar: Hebrew and Gregorian dates for each day, Rosh Chodesh, the Fast of Esther, Purim, Shushan Purim, the Shabbatot of the month, the weekly Torah portion, and a link to a related quiz.

Hebrew dateMilestoneWhat to know
1 AdarRosh Chodesh AdarThe beginning of the month of joy and preparation for Purim
13 AdarFast of EstherA fast day connected to the Megillah story; the practical date can shift when it falls near Shabbat
14 AdarPurimMegillah reading, sending food gifts, gifts to the poor, and the Purim meal in most places
15 AdarShushan PurimPurim in Jerusalem and in cities walled from the days of Joshua
Shabbatot in AdarWeekly Torah portionsUsually the Mishkan portions and the end of Exodus, and sometimes the beginning of Leviticus
End of AdarPreparing for NisanA transition from Purim joy toward cleaning, freedom, and preparation for Passover

In 5786, for example, 1 Adar falls on Wednesday, February 18, 2026; 13 Adar, the Fast of Esther and the eve of Purim, falls on Monday, March 2, 2026; and Purim falls on 14 Adar, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. Annual dates, Torah portions, and Shabbat times should be loaded on the site from a reliable, up-to-date calendar source.

What Is the Meaning of Adar?

The well-known teaching "When Adar enters, we increase joy" gives Adar its special character: not shallow happiness, but joy that emerges from danger, prayer, responsibility, and unity. The Book of Esther does not tell of an openly revealed miracle like the splitting of the sea. It tells of unfolding events, human choices, courage, and precise timing.

That is a deep educational message for children. Sometimes there is no immediate solution, and sometimes one person must choose whether to stand in a difficult place. Esther enters the palace, Mordechai stands firm, and the entire community is called to fast, gather, and act. From all of this comes a festival that speaks about joy, but also about responsibility.

That is why Adar is a good month for a family or classroom question: what turns a scattered group into people who care for one another? How can joy become an act of giving? And how do we learn to see the possibility of repair inside a complicated story?

Purim: The Heart of the Month

Purim is observed on 14 Adar in most places, and on 15 Adar in Jerusalem and in cities walled from the days of Joshua. The mitzvot of the day include reading the Megillah, sending gifts of food, giving gifts to the poor, and holding a Purim meal. On an educational site, there is no need to reproduce full texts or protected wording; it is better to offer original, clear explanations and direct users to reliable sources for precise readings.

Purim can be presented in four circles:

Adar in a Leap Year: Adar I and Adar II

One of the most common questions about Adar is what happens in a leap year. In such a year there are two months of Adar: Adar I and Adar II. Purim is observed in Adar II, the month closest to Nisan, preserving the connection between the redemption of Purim and the redemption of Passover. The Mishnah in Megillah notes the central difference between the first Adar and the second Adar regarding the reading of the Megillah and gifts to the poor.

A dynamic page should therefore show users a clear message:

This prevents confusion and allows the page to serve both general searches and practical calendar needs.

Torah Portions in Adar

The Torah portions in Adar vary by year, but the month usually falls around the end of Exodus and the beginning of Leviticus:

This sequence works well for a Bible Quiz: on one side are Purim and the Book of Esther, and on the other are the Mishkan portions, giving, public responsibility, and repair after crisis.

Family Learning Themes and Practices

Adar invites short learning around several themes:

Questions for Children and an Adar Quiz

The page can include a short quiz that updates by week or date:

  1. On which Hebrew date is Purim observed in most places?
  2. On which date is Shushan Purim observed in Jerusalem?
  3. Who is Esther, and what is her other name in the Megillah?
  4. Who raised Esther?
  5. What did Haman want to do to the Jews?
  6. What are the four central mitzvot of Purim?
  7. Why do we give gifts to the poor on Purim?
  8. What does the phrase "it was turned around" mean?
  9. In which Torah portion does the half-shekel appear?
  10. What can the Mishkan portions teach about shared giving?

Call to action: Start the Adar 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:

Frequently Asked Questions

When does Adar begin?

Adar begins on 1 Adar. The Gregorian date changes every year, so it is best to check a Hebrew-Gregorian calendar for the year you need.

How many days are in Adar?

In a regular year, Adar has 29 days. In a leap year there are two months of Adar: Adar I has 30 days and Adar II has 29 days.

When is Purim celebrated?

Purim is observed on 14 Adar in most places. In Jerusalem and in cities walled from the days of Joshua, it is observed on 15 Adar, known as Shushan Purim. In a leap year, Purim is observed in Adar II.

What is the Fast of Esther?

The Fast of Esther is a fast connected to the Book of Esther and Esther's call to fast before she approaches the king. It is usually observed on 13 Adar, though in some years the practical date changes according to the calendar.

Which Torah portions are read in Adar?

Adar usually includes portions around the end of Exodus: Terumah, Tetzaveh, Ki Tisa, Vayakhel, and Pekudei, and sometimes Vayikra. The exact order depends on the structure of the year and whether the year is regular or leap.

How can Adar connect to a Bible Quiz?

You can include questions about the Book of Esther, Purim characters, the mitzvot of the day, the half-shekel, the Mishkan portions, and the idea of reversal. This connects the calendar, the weekly Torah portion, and a living Jewish story.

Adar Quiz Idea

Quiz name: "Adar: Megillah, Joy, and Giving"

Suggested structure: 15 questions in three stages - the characters of the Book of Esther, the mitzvot of Purim, and the Mishkan portions. At the end, the user receives an "Adar mission": choose one action of shared joy - a food gift, help, a kind word, or learning together - and connect it to a value from the Megillah.

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 year, display the month, and print the calendar.