7. In which Adar is one to celebrate an Upsherinish?[1]

A. If one was born in Adar of a leap year:

If the current year contains one Adar:[2] If one was born in Adar of a leap year and the current year only contains one Adar then he celebrates his Upsherinish on that same date in the current Adar. This applies whether he was born on Adar I or Adar II. Thus if Reuvein was born on the 29th of Adar I and Shimon on the 1st of Adar II then in the current year with a single Adar Reuvein celebrates his Upsherinish on the 29th of Adar and Shimon on the 1st of Adar. [Hence although Reuvein is older than Shimon he nevertheless celebrates his Upsherinish later than Shimon, if his 3rd year is not a leap year.]

If the current year is also a leap year:[3] If one was born during Adar of a leap year and the current year is also a leap year, then he celebrates his Upsherinish on the day of the Adar that he was born in. Thus, if Reuvein was born on the 29th of Adar I and Shimon on the 1st of Adar II then in the current leap year Reuvein celebrates his birthday and Upsherinish on the 29th of Adar I and Shimon on the 1st of Adar II.

B. If one was born in Adar of a non-leap year and now it is a leap year:[4]

If one was born during Adar of a regular year and the current year is a leap year then he celebrates his Upsherinish on the date of his birth in Adar II. Thus, if Reuvein was born on the 12th of Adar of a non-leap year than in a leap year Reuvein celebrates his Upsherinish on the 12th of Adar II.

Summary: Current year is not a leap year: Everyone who was born in Adar, whether of a leap year or not, celebrates his Upsherinish in Adar on the corresponding date. Current year is a leap year: All Upsherinish are celebrated in the second Adar unless one was born in Adar I.

Q&A What is one to do if he was born on the 30th of Adar I and in the current year there is only one Adar of 29 days? If one was born on the 30th of Adar of a leap year and the current year is a non-leap year, which hence only contains 29 days in Adar, then some Poskim[5] rule one celebrates his Upsherinish on the 30th of Shevat. Other Poskim[6], however, rule he is to celebrate on the first of Nissan. Other opinions[7] have also been mentioned.

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[1] See Nitei Gavriel 1:8; See Igros Kodesh 24:295; Yerushalmi Megillah 1:5 that discusses which month is considered the Chodesh Haiibur

[2] Michaber 55:10

Why was this law omitted from the Shulchan Aruch Harav Chapter 55? Tzaruch Iyun Gadol regarding why this Halacha was omitted from Admur chapter 55, despite him bringing another Halacha from that same Magen Avraham [55:10]. [Igros Kodesh 24:295; 28:129; Hisvasyus ibid] Perhaps Admur wanted to bring it in his section on the laws of Purim, however it is very difficult to accept such an answer. [Likkutei Sichos 15 p. 603] Alternatively Admur wanted to bring it in the Mahadura Basra [Hisvadyus 1986 2:538] Alternatively in the original manuscript this Halacha was found in full and was mistakenly omitted by the editors. [So suggests Kuntrus Hashulchan p. 20 as a certainty.]

[3] Shvus Yaakov 1:9; Peri Chadash; Eliyahu Raba; Levush 685; Yeshuos Yaakov 55:6; Mahri Mintz; Machatziz Hashekel and Beir Heiytiv 55:11 in name of Shvus Yaakov ibid which concludes that so is the ruling of all Baalei Horah; Chasam Sofer 14 [however see Chasam Sofer 163]; Derech Hachaim Kaddish 3; Chayeh Adam 66:1; Kitzur SHU”A 15:2; Chasan Sofer 99; Aruch Hashulchan 55:14; M”B 55:43

Other Opinions: Some Poskim rule that by a leap year one always celebrates on Adar II even if he was born in Adar I. [Magen Avraham 55:10; Olas Tamid 55:5; Shulchan Shlomo 55:5]

[4] Rama 55:10; See Igros Kodesh 24:295; Shulchan Menachem 3:307 for a discussion on why the Yerushalmi Megillah 1:5 does not mention whether a Bar Mitzvah is in Adar Rishon or Sheiyni.

Other opinions: Some Poskim rule one is to celebrate his birthday and Bar Mitzvah in Adar Rishon. [Mahrash Levi 16] Some Poskim rule that one is to be stringent like this opinion, for the Bar Mitzvah boy to begin wearing Tefillin in Adar Rishon. [Beis Shlomo Even Haezer 56] Practically, this is not the custom, and rather all customs are followed only from the second of Adar . [Shulchan Melachim ibid] Regarding Tefillin however, the Chabad custom is to begin wearing them two months before the Bar Mitzvah.

[5] Minchas Yitzchak 6:8; Binyan Tziyon 141; Mishpatecha Leyaakov 13; So also rules regarding a Yartzite: M”B 568:42 in name of Magen Avraham 568:20, following the Girsa of the Machatzis Hashekel and Yad Efraim in M”A ibid, however see P”M ibid for a different Girsa

[6] Igros Moshe Y.D. 3:159 regarding a yartzite; See Nitei Gavriel 12:4 footnote 7 for the different opinions on this matter; So rules regarding one who was born on the 30^th of Cheshvan or Kisleiv that he does not become Bar Mitzvah until the 1^st of Kisleiv:Teves: Admur 55:13; M”A 55:10; Elya Raba 55:9; Yad Ahron; M”B 55:45; Ketzos Hashulchan 15:6; Derech Hachaim; Kneses Hagedola; Poskim in Kaf Hachaim 55:60; and so rules regarding one who was born on the 1^st of Kisleiv and the next year there are two days Rosh Chodesh Kisleiv, that he celebrates only on the 1^st day of Kisleiv: Shaareiy Teshuvah 55:5 in name of Elya Raba

[7] See Nitei Gavriel ibid that some say one is to celebrate on the 1^st of Adar