THE MONTH OF ADAR II - THE JEWISH LEAP YEAR, A PREGNANT YEAR

"Many have the custom to mark Rosh Chodesh with a festive meal and reduced work activity. The latter custom is prevalent amongst women, who have a special affinity with Rosh Chodesh -- the month being the feminine aspect of the Jewish Calendar" This month, Adar l, is an added month in the Jewish leap year. This year is a shanah meuberet (lit., “a PREGNANT YEAR”), more commonly known as a leap year, on the Jewish calendar. The Jewish leap year, which occurs 7 times in a 19-year cycle, has 13 months instead of the regular year’s 12. This is so that the lunar-based Jewish year (which is 354.37 days) should remain aligned with the solar year (365.25 days) and seasons. It is important to keep the calendars aligned in order for the festivals to retain their positions relative to the seasons as prescribed by the Torah. The added month is called Adar I, and is inserted before the month of Adar (termed Adar II in leap years).