Purim Katan

When leap years occur in the Jewish calendar, it creates the addition of a new month. The new month, which occurs every few years, is Adar. As this month is not only the month in which Purim occurs, but there is also an early rabbinic statement indicates very little difference between these two Adars in a leap year (mMegillah 1:4), this creates what becomes known as “Purim Katan”, the little Purim.

Is there any need to do anything for this day, to celebrate it, to refrain from mourning, etc. are matters that rabbinic scholars throughout the generations have considered.

Here are some sources on the topic that were discussed as part of The Purim Katan episode of The Jewish Drinking Show.

Here are some video clips from that episode:

• Tosafot on Purim Katan
• clip 2
• clip 3

Purim Katan occurs roughly every few years (according to HebCal):

• 14-15 February 2022
• 22-23 February 2024
• 20-21 February 2027
• 16-17 February 2030
• 12-13 February 2033
• 22-23 February 2035
• 18-19 February 2038

Here are dozens of audio talks on this topic from YUTorah:

• Rabbi Aryeh Cohen – “The Secret Simcha of Purim Kattan” (16 February 2019)
• Rabbi Daniel Z. Feldman – “Purim Katan” (15 February 2022)
• Rabbi Matan Friedman – “Halachos Related to Purim Katan” (12 February 2022)
• Rabbi Matan Friedman – “Halachos of Purim Katan” (17 February 2024)
• Rabbi Eric Goldstein – “Purim Katan” (13 February 2022)
• Rabbi Daniel Hartstein – “Purim Katan” (19 February 2008)
• Rabbi Yechezkel Hartman – “Purim Katan and Adar Alef in Halachah (Short Version)” (13 February 2019)
• Rabbi Eliakim Koenigsberg – “Halacha Topics – Purim Katan, Leap Year” (21 February 2016)
• Rabbi Eliakim Koenigsberg – “Halacha Topics – Purim Katan” (13 February 2022)
• Rabbi Yoni Levin – “The Halacha Chat: ‘Shushan’ Purim Katan?” (19 February 2019)
• Rabbi Sariel Malitzky – “Purim Katan- Not Small At All” (14 February 2019)
• Rabbi Chaim Marcus – “Purim Katan & Ki Sisa: Eternal Hope” (23 February 2016)
• Rabbi Dovid Miller – “Shiur Klali: Purim Katan” (16 February 2022)
• Rabbi Zev Reichman – “Purim Kattan 2016” (15 February 2016)
• Rabbi Zev Reichman – “Purim Kattan 2016 II” (22 February 2016)
• Rabbi Hershel Schachter – “Purim Katan” (15 February 1984)
• Rabbi Aaron Selevan – “Purim Katan” (7 February 2019)
• Rabbi Aaron Selevan – “Seudah & Purim Katan” (3 March 2022)
• Rabbi Eliav Silverman – “The Nature of Purim Katan” (15 February 2022)
• Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky – “The Message of Purim Katan” (13 February 2014)
• Rabbi Zvi Sobolofsky – “פורים קטן- A Small Day with a Big Message” (23 February 2016)
• Rabbi Yaacov Thaler – “Siman 697 (Purim Katan)” (14 February 2022)
• Rabbi Mayer E. Twersky – “Issues of Purim and Purim Katan” (27 February 2005)
• Rabbi Ari Wasserman – “Hilchos Purim Katan – Have a party? Can you fast?” (16 February 2022)
• Rabbi Moshe Weinberger – “Purim Katan Reveals That A Good Heart Is Always Joyous” (20 February 2008)
• Rabbi Moshe Weinberger – “Purim Katan – What Exactly Is The Nature Of The Day?” (17 February 2011)
• Rabbi Dr. Richard Weiss – “Rosh Chodesh Adar I/Purim Kattan” (7 February 2024)
• Rabbi Michoel Zylberman – “Tetzaveh: Purim Katan” (14 February 2019)