CCAR RESPONSA
Contemporary American Reform Responsa
127. LEAP YEAR YAHRZEIT
OBSERVANCE
QUESTION: How is yahrzeit treated in a leap
year when there is a second month of Adar? What occurs if the person commemorated died in a
leap year during Adar II? What occurs if the person commemorated died during the First Adar in
an ordinary year? Is the yahrzeit shifted as the festival of Purim? (Rabbi R. B. Davenport,
IA)ANSWER: As yahrzeit has traditionally been observed by fasting, visiting
the grave, reciting qaddish, lighting a candle, studying Torah, giving to charity,
etc., there is considerable discussion on the matter of dates, not only in connection with the Adar
II, but also with a death that fell on Rosh Hodesh (see especially Abraham Gombiner to
Shulhan Arukh Orah Hayim 568.7; Sefer Hassidim #723; Shulhan Arukh
Yoreh Deah 220.8). One of the main problems over whether Adar I or Adar II should be used to
commemorate the dead is the tradition of reciting qaddish for eleven months for the
righteous. If it is recited for twelve months, that characterizes a person as wicked. Therefore,
Adar I is certainly used for yahrzeit in the first year, even if that year is a leap
year. In subsequent years yahrzeit would, according to Sephardic and some
other authorities, shift to Adar II whenever a leap year occurs (Bet Yosef to Tur 403;
Maharil Hilkhot Semahot; Mahari Weil Responsa #68; etc.). Caro, in
the above cited section of the Shulhan Arukh, stated that we move the yahrzeit
from Adar I to Adar II whenever a leap year occurs, but Isserles disagrees and leaves it in Adar I.
In other words, there is a conflict of minhag between the Mediterranean Jewish
community and that of Northern Europe. We also see that Jacob Mölln went one step
further and indicates that it should be commemorated both during Adar I and Adar II, which is
still done by some pious individuals. As Reform Jews, we would follow the Northern
European tradition and commemorate the yahrzeit in Adar I, if the death occurred in Adar
I, irrespective of whether the year was an ordinary year or leap year. If the death occurred in
Adar II, we would commemorate it in Adar II during leap years and in Adar I during ordinary
years.March 1984
If needed, please consult Abbreviations used in CCAR Responsa.