Shabbat Zachor

11 Adar, Feb. 27 and 28

It is a positive Biblical mitzvah to hear the reading of Parshat Zachor on this Shabbat. Some say that this obligation applies to women as well.

• A second Sefer Torah is taken out of the ark and Parshat Zachor is read as the maftir aliyah.
• It is proper for all those assembled to listen to every word of this reading with the intention of fulfilling the above-mentioned Biblical commandment.
• Some say that one may do a reading of Parshat Zachor in the afternoon for those who were unable to attend shul in the morning. If there is a minyan (including at least six men who didn’t yet hear Parshat Zachor), one may recite the blessings before and after the reading. Others say that in such a case, the Torah should be read without a blessing even if there is a minyan.
• If there is no minyan (or there aren’t six men who didn’t yet hear the reading), Parshat Zachot can be read again without a bracha.
• If one did not hear the Zachor reading, one should make sure to hear the Torah reading of Purim morning with which, according to some authorities, one can fulfill this mitzvah.
• It has been suggested that one should not eat before this reading just as one should not eat before performing any mitzvah that has a fixed time.