Friday, January 28, 2011
Dear Rabbi,
I need to know if the following yahrzeits should be observed in Adar I or Adar II this leap year of 5771.
Albert Shiller
Born 7/3/1913 28 Sivan 5673
Died 2/2/1976 (8:30 AM) 1 Adar 5736
Anna Shiller
Born 12/23/1907 18 Tevet 5668
Died 2/14/1983 (2.30 PM)1 Adar 5743
Helen Henkin
Born 7/9/1915 27 Tammuz 5675
Died 3/17/99 (Daytime) 29 Adar 5759
Answer:
For somebody who died on Adar of an ordinary year, Shulchan Aruch (568:7) writes that one should observe the yahrzeit on Adar II, whereas Rema brings that some say it should be observed on Adar I, and adds that some observe both.
Mishnah Berurah (568:42) writes that the final opinion is the principle halachah. Therefore, it is correct to observe the yahrzeit twice.
For somebody who died on Adar I of a leap year, the Adar I date alone should be observed.
Although all the dates you write are given as Adar, I don’t know if the years were leap years or not. Check if the years of death were leap years or not, and determine the halachah based on the principles above.
