1) The second of the "4 Parshiyos" is "Parshas Zachor" (which can be found at the end of Parshas Ki Teitzei, Devarim 25: 17-19) which commemorates the story of how the accursed nation of Amalek rose up against Klal Yisroel, and that we are commanded to eradicate them.
This "Parsha" is read the Shabbos before Purim(This year, Shabbos Parshas Tetzaveh, March 7th) in order to read it as close as possible to the reading of the story of the wicked Haman, who was a descendant of Amalek.
2) The reading of "Parshas Zachor" is a biblical obligation, which must be read once a year with a Minyan, from a kosher Sefer Torah.
All the congregants should concentrate on hearing every word from the Ba'al Koreh(as well as the Brachos before and after the Aliyah) and have in mind to satisfy their obligation to hear this Parsha.
The Poskim debate whether this obligation is incumbent on women as well. Though most Poskim are lenient and maintain that women have no obligation to hear it is Shul, the prevalent Minhag is for women and girls to indeed come to Shul [if possible]to hear Parshas Zachor.
If a woman cannot make it to Shul, she should read the Pesukim herself from a Chumash.
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
(Reader Submitted Questions of interest (on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topics) and my Answers taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Todaywebsite. For study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha. Questions can be sent to Halacha For Today)
Reader's Question:
Do woman also have to sleep on the left and wake up on the right in the morning like men? And it says that when taking of your clothes we should take of 1 at a time or we will forget [our learning] do women have to be careful in those areas? and with the shoes?
My Answer:
Women should also try and sleep on their left side. Though, the halachic stringency is more important for men, there are Kabbalistic as well as health reasons for this that apply to women as well.
The Poskim debate whether women need to be careful with all the things that "cause forgetfullness". Most contemporary Poskim say that they should indeed try to be careful for them, especially if the woman is pregnant.
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
