Shabbat Before Purim

What is the special Torah reading on the Shabbat before Purim?

Shalom!

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The Torah commands us to remember (“zachor”) that the Amalekites attacked the Jewish people shortly after their departure from Egypt. This is a mitzva that must be performed verbally, and, according to many authorities, it must be read from a text. We fulfill this mitzva by listening to a special Torah reading about the attack of Amalek on the Shabbat before Purim, known as “Shabbat Zachor.” The reading of Parshat Zachor might just be the only Torah reading that is mandated by the Torah itself. All other Torah readings, including Shabbat and Yom Tov, are rabbinical enactments.

There is much discussion on how the word "zecher" in the reading is to be pronounced. As such, Le'chatchilah to read that verse twice, first as “zecher” and then as “zeicher.” 

According to some authorities, women are exempt from this mitzva. This is because a component of the mitzva of remembering Amalek is also to wage war against them, and to destroy them. Since women are exempt from military duty and are essentially ineligible to participate in Amalek’s physical destruction, they are also exempt from the mitzvah to remember their ambush. According to most other authorities, women are obligated to hear the Zachor reading just like men, and therefore, they should attend the synagogue on Shabbat Zachor in order to hear the reading, Le'halcah we say that if it is difficult for a woman to attend Shul, she should say the parshah of Zachor aloud from a Chumash at home.

Devarim 25:17; Megilla18a; Tosfot, Megilla 17b; Bach, OC 685; Magen Avraham 685; Mishna Berura 685:18; Chinuch 603.