Shabbat Zachor ("Sabbath [of] remembrance שבת זכור) is the Shabbat immediately preceding Purim. Deuteronomy 25:17-19, describing the attack by Amalek, is recounted. There is a tradition from the Talmud that Haman, the antagonist of the Purim story, was descended from Amalek. The portion that is read includes a commandment to remember the attack by Amalek, and therefore at this public reading both men and women make a special effort to hear the reading.
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List of Dates
Shabbat Zachor begins at sundown in the Diaspora on:- Fri, 18 March 2011 (13th of Adar II, 5771)
- Fri, 02 March 2012 (9th of Adar, 5772)
- Fri, 22 February 2013 (13th of Adar, 5773)
- Fri, 14 March 2014 (13th of Adar II, 5774)
- Fri, 27 February 2015 (9th of Adar, 5775)
- Fri, 18 March 2016 (9th of Adar II, 5776)
Torah Portion: Deuteronomy 25:17 - 25:19 (special maftir)
maf: Deuteronomy 25:17-19
(3 p'sukim)
Haftarah: I Samuel 15:2 - 15:34
References
- The Jewish Holidays: A Guide & Commentary
- Rabbi Michael Strassfeld
- Hebrew - English Bible
- Mechon Mamre
- Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures
- Jewish Publication Society
- "Special Shabbat" in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia
- Wikimedia Foundation Inc.