צוה) תרומה תשפטים מתרו ישלח בא בארא ומות ש(
These two “words” are an abbreviation of the initials of the names of the 8 Parshiyos, from Shmos to Tetzaveh, and represent the 8 weeks which correspond to the extra eight days (Mondays and Thursdays) in the added month of Adar. Monday and Thursday are days of extra prayer and Torah reading.
During these eight weeks it became customary to fast and say S’lichos every Monday and Thursday, especially in (Jewish) leap years.
Various reasons have been ascribed to this custom: e.g., the length of the winter, the need for extra Teshuvah (repentance) linked to the Midrash that the moon was punished by becoming a smaller luminary than the sun. According to one source, pregnant (m’uberet) women were liable to miscarry in a leap year (shanah m’uberet), a play on words.
These Parshiyos are specifically connected to the concept of Teshuvah. שובביםשובו בנים (ירמיהו ג, יד) The few Jews went into Galus that led to the forging of a nation and their eventual redemption. The initial act of sin led the Jews into Galus, yet the eventual Teshuvah led to their redemption. Thus, a person who sins should not despair, but engage in Teshuvah. After doing Teshuvah we are once again called “Banim”, His Children
Hence, the start of Sefer Shmos refers to the fecundity of Israel. R. Isaish Horowitz (the Shelah) requires of us extra efforts with Teshuva (Repentance), Tefillah (Prayer), Tzedakah (Charity), and Talmud Torah (study of Torah), these concepts being found in the eight Parshiyos, Shova”vim Ta”t.
ו חבית ש אי ביעק תא המצרימ םהבאי לישרא יבנ תשמו הואל
Final letters of the first verse of Shmos spells תהלים תשובה
