ז' אדר התשפ"ו Moshe Rabbeinu zt"l

Moshe Rabbeinu zt"l

Adar 7, 2488 / -1273

Father's Name: Amram

Zayin Adar – an Overview and the Zayin Adar Seder of Moshe Rabbeinu’s Yahrtzeit

History and Background of Zayin Adar

The Significance of the Date
The seventh of Adar — Zayin Adar — marks both the birth and the yahrtzeit of Moshe Rabbeinu. The Gemara (Kiddushin 38a, Sotah 12b) establishes that Moshe was born on 7 Adar and died on 7 Adar exactly 120 years later, fulfilling the pasuk: “I will complete the number of your days” (Shemos 23:26). The Gemorah teaches that Hashem completes the years of the righteous “from day to day” — that tzaddikim are born and die on the same date.

Several important minhagim are associated with Zayin Adar:

Fasting: The Maharil (Teshuvos Maharil, Siman 31) records the minhag to fast on Zayin Adar, and this is codified in Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 580:2). In a leap year, the fast is observed in Adar Rishon (Magen Avraham), even if the year Moshe died was not a leap year, because Zayin Adar I falls near Parshas Tetzaveh — the only parsha from Moshe’s birth until Devarim in which his name does not appear, hinting at his passing.
Chevra Kadisha observances: Zayin Adar is the annual gathering day for Chevra Kadisha (burial societies) worldwide. Because Hakadosh Baruch Hu Himself attended to Moshe’s burial (the only “day off” for the Chevra Kadisha in history), this date was chosen for recognition of those who perform the mitzva of tachrichim and burial. A seudas mitzva is held following the fast.
Tzidkascha: Some communities recite Tzidkascha (the three pesukim of Tehillim 36:7, 71:19, and 119:142) at Mincha. The Sephardic order begins with 36:7; Nusach Ashkenaz reverses the order.
Tachanun: Chabad and some other communities omit Tachanun beginning from Mincha of 6 Adar, since the neshama of Moshe shines in the leader of each generation and they feel the spiritual significance of the day as a yom simcha (day of joy).

The Seder Zayin Adar: Origin and Nature
The text known as the “Seder Zayin Adar” is a compilation that was recited on this day as a form of tikkun (spiritual rectification) in honor of Moshe Rabbeinu. The earliest printed edition that has been found so far is likely the Tikkun le-Zayin Adar u-le-Chamisha be-Av (Tikkun for 7 Adar and 5 Av), published in Livorno (Leghorn) in 1874. This indicates the text was already an established tradition by the 19th century in both Sephardic and Ashkenazic communities.

The text draws from multiple earlier sources, including Midrashic material about Moshe’s death (drawing heavily on Devarim Rabbah, Yalkut Shimoni, Midrash Petiras Moshe, and other related aggadata), the Gemorahs on the three gifts given in the merit of Miriam, Aharon, and Moshe, and halachic material on Yom Kippur.

Rabbi Moshe Cohen (whose name appears on the version translated by this author) organized and compiled this version of the Seder. The custom of reciting this text on Zayin Adar is observed both in Eretz Yisrael and in Chutz La’Aretz.

The Seder covers several major ideas: (1) the transfer of leadership from Moshe Rabbeinu to Yehoshua; (2) chronological data about Moshe Rabbeinu’s life and the cessation of the three nissim; (3) a vivid, moving account of Moshe Rabbeinu’s petirah, including the conversation between Hashem and Moshe Rabbeinu’s neshamah; (4) the malachim refusing to take his Neshama and Hakadosh Baruch Hu’s taking of it with a “kiss”; (5) the mourning of all creation; and (6) laws of Yom Kippur, connecting the the idea of kapparah on this day.


The author can be reached at yairhoffman2@gmail.com

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