Introduction
The 20th of Adar is the anniversary of both the birth and passing of Moshe Rabbeinu. In addition to the obvious significance of such a date, the 20th of Adar also influences the entire month of Adar. Our Sages tell us that it was the enormous influence of the 20th of Adar that caused the miracle of Purim to occur and transformed Adar into a month of unrivaled joy. To explain: The supernal source of a soul—its “Mazal”—is bolstered and predominant on the day of one’s birth. Being that “Moshe is [considered] all” of the Jewish people, the Mazal that is bolstered on his birthday is that of the entire nation. Thus we are told that during the month of Adar, the Mazal of the Jews is “predominant and healthy.” Moreover, the goal of Creation is to transform the world into a dwelling for Hashem. This theme is uniquely expressed in the month of Adar—whose name is comprised of the letter Alef (representing Hashem, the “Master”—Aluf—of the Universe) and the word Dar (meaning “to dwell”). The number 20 signifies the natural cycle, and by extension, all of Creation which was made in 20 days. Thus the 20th day of Adar symbolizes the details of existence being transformed into Hashem’s dwelling—the fruition of Hashem’s plan for Creation.
Each to Their Own
The 20th of Adar Rishon is a special day with unique customs. Some of these customs are stated in Shulchan Aruch, and others are recorded in subsequent works. These are the unique—and sometimes conflicting—customs that are actually practiced among the various Jewish groups, in the spirit of “each river follows its own course.”
Adar Rishon
The concept of the “20th of Adar” (i.e., in the context of the birth and passing of Moshe Rabbeinu) applies to the first month of Adar (in a leap year, when there are two months of Adar).
