שבת זכור
Shabbat Zachor 2017
Find the exact dates for Shabbat Zachor 2017 (5777), including when it begins and ends.
When is Shabbat Zachor 2017?
Observed on
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Shabbat Zachor is the Shabbat immediately before Purim.
Significance
Shabbat Zachor fulfills the biblical commandment to remember Amalek's attack. Many authorities consider hearing this reading a biblical obligation.
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Learn more about Shabbat Zachor
Frequently Asked Questions About Shabbat Zachor
Shabbat Zachor (Shabbat of Remembrance) is the Shabbat immediately before Purim. A special maftir from Deuteronomy 25:17-19 is read, commanding the Jewish people to remember the attack by Amalek upon leaving Egypt. Hearing this reading is considered a Torah obligation by many authorities, and synagogues are typically filled to capacity.
Haman, the villain of the Purim story, was a descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites. Reading about the commandment to remember and blot out the memory of Amalek immediately before Purim connects the ancient enemy with the Purim narrative. The haftarah tells of King Saul's battle against Agag and the Amalekites.
About Shabbat Zachor in 2017
Shabbat Zachor (שבת זכור) dates change each year because Jewish holidays follow the Hebrew lunisolar calendar.
For more about Shabbat Zachor including its history, customs, and traditions, see our comprehensive guide. Learn more about Shabbat Zachor