JMM Monthly Zine: Adar 5784
This is the eighth edition of a monthly zine by the Jewish Museum of Maryland.
In each issue, we share content about the holidays, rituals, and ideas related to the current month in the Jewish calendar.
This month’s zine focuses on the Hebrew month of Adar.
You can pick up physical copies of the monthly zine in the Lombard and Lloyd Library or download a PDF version here, or a printable booklet version here. Lombard and Lloyd Library is located in the grassy corner of the JMM’s campus at the intersection of Lombard and Lloyd Streets.
We hope to provide space for people at the JMM and beyond to share their thoughts and creations as they relate to where we are in the Hebrew calendar.
5784 is a leap year in the Hebrew calendar, also known as a shana me’uberet, or a pregnant year. Months in the Jewish calendar are based on the cycle of the moon and are shorter than months in the Gregorian calendar, which is based on the cycle of the sun. Most Jewish years are 353-355 days long rather than 365.25 days, as most Gregorian years are.
To address the misalignment of the lunar and solar years, every two or three years, a leap year with an additional month is incorporated into the Hebrew calendar. During a leap year, the month of Adar becomes Adar א, and Adar ב, also known as Adar I and Adar II. א (alef) and ב (beis) are the first two letters of the Hebrew alphabet and have the numerical values of 1 and 2 respectively.
Adar is known as the month in which we increase in joy, and this year we get double the joy! This month’s zine is dedicated to joy, fun, and laughter.
Inspired by joy and happiness, this month’s zine features a playlist created by JMM staff. Click here to listen.
