Special Shabbat

Special Shabbatot are Jewish Shabbat (Hebrew, שבת shabbath) days on which special events are commemorated. Variations in the liturgy and special customs differentiate them from the other Shabbats (Hebrew, שבתות Shabbatot) and each one is referred to by a special name. Many communities also add piyyutim on many of these special Shabbatot. Two such Shabbats, Shabbat Mevarchim—the Shabbat preceding a new Hebrew month—and Shabbat Rosh Chodesh (which coincides with the new month/moon) can occur on several occasions throughout the year. The other special Shabbats occur on specific sabbaths before or coinciding with certain Jewish holidays during the year according to a fixed pattern.