This article is an excerpt from our Sefer

Buy me on Amazon.com

In which Adar is one to commemorate a Yartzite?

If the person passed away in Adar of a leap year:[1]

If the current year contains one Adar: If a person passed away during Adar of a leap year and the current year contains one Adar then the commemoration of his Yartzite is on that same date in the current Adar. This applies whether the person passed away on Adar I or Adar II. Thus if Reuvein passed away on the 29th of Adar I and Shimon passed away on the 1st of Adar II, then in the current year with a single Adar, Reuven’s Yartzite is commemorated on the 29th of Adar and Shimon’s Yartzite is commemorated on the 1st of Adar. [Hence although Reuvein passed away prior to Shimon he nevertheless has his Yartzite commemorated later than Shimon, if the current year is not a leap year.]

If the current year is also a leap year:[2] If a person passed away during Adar of a leap year and the current year is also a leap year, then the commemoration of his Yartzite is on the day of the Adar that he passed away in. Thus, if Reuvein passed away on the 29th of Adar I and Shimon passed away on the 1st of Adar II then in the current leap year Reuven’s Yartzite is commemorated on the 29th of Adar I and Shimon’s Yartzite is commemorated on the 1st of Adar II.

A person passed away on the 30th of Adar I and in the current year there is only one Adar of 29 days:[3] If the person passed away on the 30th of Adar I of a leap year and the current year is a non-leap year, which hence only contains 29 days in Adar, then the commemoration of his Yartzite is on the 30th of Shevat.[4]

B. If the person passed away in Adar of a non-leap year and now it is a leap year:[5]

Some Poskim[6] rule one is to commemorate the Yahrzeit in the second Adar [and so is the Sefaradi custom[7]]. Other Poskim[8] rule one is to commemorate the Yahrzeit in the first Adar and so is the [Ashkenazi[9]] custom. Some, however, are stringent to commemorate the Yahrzeit in both the first and second Adar.[10]

The first year:[11] The above debate is only regarding the date of the Yahrzeit from the second year and onwards. However, if the first Yahrzeit falls in a leap year, then according to all [Sefaradim and Ashkenazim] one is to commemorate the Yahrzeit on the first Adar, when the 12 months have concluded, and not in Adar Sheiyni.

______________________________________________________________

[1] Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 221:3

[2] Rama Y.D. 402:12 regarding Adar Beis; Shach 402:12 regarding both Adar Alef and Beis; Rashal

[3] M”B 568:42 in name of Magen Avraham 568:20

[4] The reason: As this is the first day of Rosh Chodesh Adar, just like the original year.

[5] Michaber and Rama 568:7; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 568:8; Nitei Gavriel 77:13

[6] Michaber ibid; Machazik Bracha 568:8; Kneses Hagedola 568; Chasam Sofer 163; Ikarei Hadaat 29:4; Milameid Lehoil 116; Levushei Mordechai Tinyana 43; Kaf Hachaim 568:76

[7] Kaf Hachaim 568:76

[8] Rama O.C. ibid; Rama Y.D. 402:12 “Even though some opinions argue, so is the main opinion”; Taz 568:3; Terumas Hadeshen 294; Kneses Hagedola 568 in name of Mahrash Halevi; Mahariy Mintz; Yeshuos Yaakov 5684; Mateh Efraim 3:6; Kitzur SHU”A 221:3 regarding fast; Aruch Hashulchan 568:13-14; Gesher Hachaim 32:10; Maharam Brisk 128

[9] Rama ibid; Kaf Hachaim ibid

[10] Rama O.C. ibid [omitted in Rama Y.D.]; Shach 402:11; Rashal; Bach; M”A 568:20 and Gr”a 568 rule that from the letter of the law one is to commemorate the Yahrzeit on both days; Ashel Avraham Butchach 568 writes to give charity to redeem fast on both dates; Kitzur SHU”A 221:3 regarding Kaddish; M”B 568:42 in name of M”A ibid [however, see there that regarding Kaddish and Davening one day suffices]; Mishmeres Shalom Yud 21 that so is custom; Some write that the widespread custom amongst Anash to commemorate the Yahrzeit in both months. [Hiskashrus] Conclusion of Nitei Gavriel 77:13 and 16 and that so is custom

[11] Beis Yosef Y.D. 403 in name of Tashbeitz; Rav Poalim 4:41; Chasam Sofer O.C. 14; Piskeiy Teshuvos ibid

[12] See Piskeiy Teshuvos 568:11; Nitei Gavriel 77:14

[13] One version of M”A 568:20 [following the Girsa of the Machatzis Hashekel and Yad Efraim in M”A ibid, however see P”M ibid and Levushei Serud for a different Girsa as edited by Machatzis Hashekel and Yad Efraim]; Mateh Efraim 3:8; Kitzur SHU”A 221:3; M”B 568:42; Kaf Hachaim 568:42; Nitei Gavriel 77:14; See also Minchas Yitzchak 6:8 who rules this way regarding a birthday

The reason: As Adar of a plain year is always in place of the second Adar of a leap year, and hence we view that the death occurred on the first day of Rosh Chodesh Adar of a plain year, which is the 30^th of Shevat. [M”A ibid, in accordance to above Girsa]

[14] Igros Moshe Y.D. 3:159 based on P”M ibid and Levushei Serud who have a different Girsa in M”A ibid; 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

[15] So conclude regarding a Bar Mitzvah: Piskeiy Teshuvos 55:18

[16] Shraga Hameir 7:174; Piskeiy Teshuvos 568 footnote 47; Nitei Gavriel 77:15 in name of Poskim; however, see there footnote 27 for opinions who rule that in a leap year he is to keep the 1^st of Adar Sheiyni as a the Yahrzeit