Simcha Beigel remembered it like yesterday; he called it “Go for broke week” - that week after Succos when everything broke. The fridge broke; the dryer broke; the car radiator broke. When his wife told him that the oven had also broken beyond repair, Simcha replied: “Guess what? We’re also broke!” The surge of expenses had completely exhausted their available assets.

Simcha turned to his neighbor, Zalman Mazal, to borrow $1,000.

“How long do you need the money for?” asked Zalman.

Simcha thought for a few minutes. “Four to six months should suffice,” he answered. “We should be able to set aside enough each month to get back on track.”

“How about we say until Rosh Chodesh Adar?” suggested Zalman.

“That’s fine,” Simcha exclaimed. “Thanks a lot!”

Zalman took a pen and paper and wrote clearly: “Sam Beigel borrowed $1,000 from Zalman Mazal. Payment due Rosh Chodesh Adar 5771.” Simcha took the pen and affixed his signature to the document.

Over the next few months, Simcha managed to stabilize his financial position and pay back his loans, each at its proper time.

It was the end of Shevat, Shabbos Mevorchim, and Simcha was chazan for Musaf. As he proclaimed the upcoming Rosh Chodesh, he realized suddenly: “There are two Adars this year of 5771, each of which has two days of Rosh Chodesh! When is the loan to Zalman due?”

After davening, Simcha went over to Rabbi Tzedek to wish him “Good Shabbos”.

“Thank you for Musaf; I enjoyed your davening very much,” Rabbi Tzedek smiled.

“Thank you,” Sam responded. “Can I ask you a question?”

“Sure,” said Rabbi Tzedek.

“I borrowed money from Zalman Mazal and agreed to repay him Rosh Chodesh Adar,” Simcha said. “Does this mean Adar I or Adar II? Is it the first day of Rosh Chodesh or the second?”

Rabbi Tzedek replied, “When a person says ‘Rosh Chodesh Adar’ without specifying, it is unclear whether this refers to Adar I or Adar II, and also to which day of Rosh Chodesh. On account of the doubt, Zalman cannot demand payment until the second day of Rosh Chodesh Adar II. “

Rabbi Tzedek then explained: “There is a dispute in the Gemara (Nedarim 63a) as to what ‘Adar’ refers to when not specified. R’ Yehuda is of the opinion that it refers to Adar I, whereas R’ Meir maintains that it usually refers to Adar II. The Rosh rules like R’ Yehuda, Adar I, whereas the Rambam rules like R’ Meir, Adar II. The Rama (O.C. 427:1) and simple reading of the Shulchan Aruch (C.M. 43:28) rule Adar I, but elsewhere the Shulchan Aruch cites both opinions (Y.D. 220:8). Later authorities also consider the issue unresolved (Shach Y.D. 220:17). When there is a questionable reading in a loan document, we apply the rule, “Yad ba’al hashtar al hatachtona”: the owner of the document (i.e. the lender) has the lower hand. This rule is a corollary of the principle, “hamotzi mei’chaveiro alav ha’reaya”: the burden of the proof is on the plaintiff. Since the lender is the one claiming payment, he can collect only when the loan is clearly due (C.M. 42:8). Here, it is not clear that the loan is due until the second Adar. “

“What about the first and second day of Rosh Chodesh?” Simcha asked.

“Although the first day of Rosh Chodesh actually belongs to the previous month, people refer to both days as ‘Rosh Chodesh.’ Hence, the Shulchan Aruch (C.M. 73:9) rules that a person who swears to pay on Rosh Chodesh Adar must pay on the first day of Rosh Chodesh. However, many authorities explain that we adopt this stringent position due to the severity of swearing (SM”A 73:27; Aruch Hashulchan C.M. 73:13). When the debt is not accompanied by an oath to repay, it would suffice to pay on the second day.

“This dispute is also relevant for commemorating the yahrzeit of someone who passed away during Adar of a regular year,” concluded Rabbi Tzedek. “The Shulchan Aruch rules to commemorate the yahrzeit during Adar II, whereas the Rama writes that the primary practice is to commemorate it during Adar I. The Achronim recommend commemorating it in both (O.C. 568:7; Mishna Berura 568:42). The Rama agrees, though, that a boy born in Adar will not become a Bar Mitzvah until Adar II, when thirteen full years are completed (O.C. 55:10).”