Rosh Chodesh Adar Beis falls on Shabbos this year. Hear are some of the laws:

Shulchan Aruch 685: The order of the four special passages

When Rosh Chodesh Adar which is close to Nissan falls on Shabbos, the passage of Shekalim is read then. This is the passage which begins with the key words "When you take" and continues until the passage with the words "and they shall also make a laver of brass: (Shemos 30:11-17) The Haftarah that should be read then is Va-Yichros Yehoyada (Melachim 11:17-12:17)

Three Torah Scrolls should be taken out. In one of them the portion of the week should be read, in the second the reading for Rosh Chodesh and in the third the Maftir should read the passage of Shekalim.

Mishnah Berurah 685:
The Haftarah that should be read is Va-Yichros Yehoyada. This is because in that passage the contributions for the renovation of the Beys Ha-Mikdash are mentioned. The Haftarah of Rosh Chodesh should not be read on that Shabbos, although it is a more frequently recurring Haftarah. This is because the reading of the Torah is left off with the reading of the passage of Shekalim and one should therefore read the Haftarah which is relevant for that passage.

I will give the following brief explanation of the matter of the four special passages. The Sages, of blessed memory, ordained that four special passages should be read each year, from Rosh Chodesh Adar until Rosh Chodesh Nissan, for the remembrance of four matters. The following are the passages:

The first is the passage of Shekalim, for the remembrance of the mitzvah of contributing half a shekel, which will be explained shortly. The people were obliged to put this amount in the contribution compartment of the Beis Ha-Mikdash, to finance the daily offerings of the whole year.

The second is the passage of Zachor, to remember the deed of Amalek. It is read on the Shabbos before Purim, so that this will be remembered close to one’s remembering of the deed of the progeny of Amalek and in order that the remembrance of the need to eradicate Amalek should precede the remembrance of what they did, in conformance with what is written, “These days are remembered and celebrated.”

The third is the passage of Parah Adumah. It should be read on the Shabbos before the Shabbos on which the passage of Ha-Chodesh is read. This is because the burning of the red heifer in the wilderness was done close to Nissan, in order to enable Israel to be sprinkled with the purification ash from it immediately after the erection of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), so that they should be halachically clean and able to make the Pesach offering in its proper time. The reason why we read this passage is to pray to Him, may He be blessed, that, speedily, halachically cleansing water should be poured over us as well.

The fourth is the passage of Ha-Chodesh, which is read on the Shabbos which is close to Rosh Chodesh Nissan, in order to sanctify the month of Nissan. This is because it is written in the Torah, “This month is for you the primary month.” However, this is not the essential sanctification of the month, as the essential sanctification is its sanctification by the Beis Din at the time when the moon is seen. This reading is required only by Rabbinical law.

Translation by Felheim Publishers

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