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There are four special Sabbaths during the year that do not coincide with a Jewish holiday, but require readings from two Torah scrolls (along with an extra ceremony attending to these readings). All four of these Sabbaths occur in the month of Adar, just before the 1st of Nissan, the start of the Biblical Year and the occurence of Passover. Collectively, these four Sabbaths are called "The Four Shabbatot."
The Four Sabbaths before Passover
1. Shabbat Shekalim
"The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less..." (Exod. 30:15)
(shab-baht she-ka-LEEM) "Sabbath of the Shekels." Read on Sabbath before the 1st of Adar. The Maftir (additional reading) from Exodus (30:11-16) describes the census of every Jew and the obligation to give a half-shekel terumah (contribution) during the month of Adar to pay for the public korbanot (sacrifices) offered in the Bet Hamikdash (Temple) in Jerusalem. According to a midrash in the Talmud (Bavli, Shekalim 1), the half-shekel represents a "fiery coin" that the LORD brought from underneath the Throne of His Glory to symbolically "atone" for the sin of the Golden Calf. Since every Jew was required to give this "widow's mite," repentance is accepted for all who come in true humilty before the LORD. For us, it might be a time to remember those who offer personal sacrifices so that we also might draw closer to God.
2. Shabbat Zakhor
"Remember what Amalek did to you..." (Deut. 25:17-19)
(shab-baht zah-KHOR) "Sabbath of Remembrance." The Shabbat that precedes Purim is called Shabbat Zakhor - the "Sabbath of remembrance." The Maftir (additional reading) is Deuteronomy 25:17-19 describing the attack by Amalek and calling for us to "Remember what Amalek did to you"(זָכוֹר אֵת אֲשֶׁר־עָשָׂה לְךָ עֲמָלֵק בַּדֶּרֶךְ בְּצֵאתְכֶם מִמִּצְרָיִם). The Haftarah (1 Sam. 15:2-34) also speaks of Amalek. These readings were selected before Purim because Haman was an Agagite, i.e., a descendant of Amalek (Esther 3:1). For more about this Sabbath, click here.
3. Shabbat Parah
"This is the ordinance of the Torah which the Lord has commanded" (Num. 19:2)
(shab-baht pah-RAH) "Sabbath of the Red Cow." On the Shabbat after Purim, in addition to the weekly Torah portion, the chapter of Parah Adumah, the Red Cow (or Red Heifer), is read. "This is the ordinance of the Torah which the Lord has commanded" (Num. 19:1-22).
The Red Heifer offering is considered a paradox to most Jewish thinkers. The paradox is that the one who offers this sacrifice becomes ritually impure, while the sprinkling of the ashes is used to make people clean. This ritual is considered chok within the Jewish tradition, meaning that it makes no rational sense. In fact, the Talmud states that of all the taryag mitzvot (613 commandments), this is the only one that King Solomon could not fathom, since this sacrifice is the most paradoxical of all the sacrifices found in the Torah. The sacrifice of Yeshua the Messiah is the fulfillment of the symbolism of the parah adumah. Both were entirely rare and without defect (sin); both were sacrificed outside the camp; both made the one who offered the sacrifice unclean but made the one who was sprinkled by it clean; and finally, both sacrifices cleanse people for priestly service.
4. Shabbat HaChodesh
"This month is for you the first of months..." (Exod. 12:2)
(shab-baht ha-KHOH-desh) "Sabbath of the Month." On the Shabbat before the month of Passover begins (Rosh Chodashim), an additional Torah reading (maftir) concerning the sanctification of the New Moon is read (Exod. 12:1-20). The New Moon of Nisan is perhaps the most significant of the "new moons" of the Jewish calendar, since it is the first month of the Biblical Calendar - and therefore represents the Biblical "New Year's Day." Note that any Shabbat that precedes a new Hebrew month (i.e., Rosh Chodesh) is known as Shabbat Mevarchim (mevarchim means "they [the congregation] bless" the forthcoming new month").
Originally Rosh Chodashim was simply called the "First Month" because it is the month of the Exodus and the other months were named in relation to it, similar to the days of the week in the Hebrew calendar (i.e., the first day, the second day...). Later it was called "Chodesh Ha-Aviv," the springtime month, because the Hebrew Calendar is reset in the spring. According to the sages, after the Babylonian Exile and the prophecy of Jeremiah was fulfilled (i.e., "it will no longer be said 'as the LORD lives, who took the people of Israel out of Egypt,' rather it will be said 'as the LORD lives, who raised up and brought the people of Israel from the Northern Land' (16:14-15), the Jews began to call the months by the names commonly used in exile as a reminder of God's faithfulness.
Immediately Preceding Passover:
5. Shabbat HaGadol
"Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." (Mal. 3:23)
(shab-baht ha-gah-DOHL) "The Great Sabbath"; the Sabbath immediately before the festival of Pesach (Passover), in commemoration of the time when the first generation set aside the Pascal lamb. The additional (musaf) is from Malachi 3. Note that a Sabbath that occurs during the "intermediate days" of Passover (and Sukkot) is known as Shabbat Chol HaMoed - "the Shabbat [of the] intermediate days." The regular weekly Torah portion is not read on this Sabbath but readings based on the holiday are recited instead.
According to the Talmud, the Exodus from Egypt occurred on Thursday, Nisan 15th, thus making the 10th of that month a Shabbat. It was on this great Shabbat that the LORD commanded the families of Israel to obtain a lamb for sacrifice and to bring it to their homes. This was to be Korban Pesach - the Passover lamb - to be sacrificed on Nisan 14th.
One of the major Egyptian gods was the sheep (or the ram god Amun), so this Shabbat is also considered "gadol" (great) because God miraculously allowed the Israelites to take lambs from among the Egyptians despite the humiliation of their deity (Orach Chaim 430:1). According to midrash, the Israelites explained that they intended to sacrifice these lambs by the LORD's command, who would then destroy the firstborn of Egypt. When the Egyptian firstborn heard this they begged their fathers to let the Israelites go, but their cries were ignored until a civil war broke out in which many Egyptians were killed (Tosafot Shabbat 87b). This internecine warfare is called the "War of the Firsborn" and is considered a great miracle that helped deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
Shabbat HaGadol foreshadowed the offering of the Mashiach Yeshua as Seh Elohim, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. The Haftarah for Shabbat HaGadol (Malachi 3:4-24) foretells of Yom Adonai and the return of Yeshua as Mashiach ben David. For more information, click here.
Shabbat HaGadol is traditionally one of two times during the year that a noted Torah sage addresses the congregation (usually regarding the laws of Passover). The other occasion is Shabbat Shuvah -- the Sabbath of Repentance -- between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
Summer Special Sabbaths
In synagogue services the order of the Haftarot (readings from the Nevi'im, or prophetic writings) usually follow the Torah reading for the week. However, beginning with the Three Weeks of Sorrow (late summer) until after the Fall High Holidays, these readings change. First are three haftarot of punishment (leading up to Tishah B'Av), then seven of consolation (for the seven weeks until Rosh Hashanah), and finally one of repentance (on Shabbat Shuvah, the Sabbath before Yom Kippur).
1. Shabbat Chazon
"And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood." (Isa. 1:15)
(shab-baht kha-ZOHN) "The Sabbath of Vision." The Sabbath preceding the Fast of Av (Tishah B'Av) during the Three Weeks of Sorrow is called Chazon ("vision"). The Haftarah reading is from the first chapter of Isaiah (1:1-27) that reveals the coming destruction of the Temple. It is common during this time to confess the sins in our lives that likewise contribute to the lack of God's Presence in our midst.
2. Shabbat Nachamu
"Nachamu, Nachamu ami - be comforted, be comforted, my people..." (Isa. 40)
(shab-baht na-kha-MOO) "The Sabbath of Comfort." The Sabbath immediately following Tishah B'Av (the Ninth of Av) is called שבת נחמו (Shabbat Nachamu - the "Sabbath of Comfort"), based on the Haftarah reading (Isaiah 40:1-27) that begins: נַחֲמוּ נַחֲמוּ עַמִּי - Nachamu, Nachamu ami - be comforted, be comforted, my people..." The sages state that the word Nachamu is repeated to offer consolation for each of the Temples that were destroyed.
Fall Special Sabbaths...
1. Shabbat Shuvah
"Take with you words, and turn to the Lord..." (Hosea 14:3)
(shab-baht shoo-VAH) "The Sabbath of Repentance." The Sabbath between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in the month of Tishri. The Haftarah begins with Hosea 14:2, "Shuva Yisrael - Return, O Israel, unto the LORD your God!"
2. Shabbat Bereshit
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." (Gen. 1:1)
(shab-baht be-ray-SHEET) "The Sabbath of Beginning." This Sabbath follows the feast of Sukkot (Simchat Torah) and the begins first portion of the annual Torah reading cycle. This Sabbath occurs after the festival of Sukkot.
Winter Special Sabbaths...
"The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation." (Exod. 15:2)
1. Shabbat Shirah
(shab-baht shee-RAH) "The Sabbath of the Song." When the Torah reading for the week is parashat Beshalach (usually in Shevat/late winter), the famous Shirat Hayam, the "Song the Sea," is chanted at services. This is a song of praise the Israelites sang after they crossed the Red Sea, and the Shabbat has come to be called Shabbat Shirah ("Sabbath of the Song").
Rosh Chodesh and the Sabbath...
In Jewish tradition, the last Sabbath of the month before the appearance of the new moon (i.e., Rosh Chodesh) is called Shabbat Mevarkhim (שַׁבַּת מְבָרְכִים, "Sabbath of Blessing"), and an additional prayer is recited asking God to bless the coming month.
If the Sabbath occurs precisely one day before the new moon, however, it is called Shabbat Machar Chodesh (מָחָר חדֶשׁ, "Shabbat of tomorrow's moon") and a different Haftarah (1 Sam. 20:18-42) is read. Note that if a Sabbath actually falls on the new moon, it is called Shabbat Rosh Chodesh (שַׁבַּת ראשׁ חדֶשׁ) and an additional Torah reading (Num. 28:9-15) and haftarah (Isa. 66:1-24) are recited during services.
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