I. Parshat Parah
(ד) רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ אֲדָר שֶׁחָל לִהְיוֹת בְּשַׁבָּת, קוֹרִין בְּפָרָשַׁת שְׁקָלִים (שמות ל). חָל לִהְיוֹת בְּתוֹךְ הַשַּׁבָּת, מַקְדִּימִין לְשֶׁעָבַר וּמַפְסִיקִין לְשַׁבָּת אַחֶרֶת. בַּשְּׁנִיָּה, זָכוֹר (דברים כה). בַּשְּׁלִישִׁית, פָּרָה אֲדֻמָּה (במדבר י״ט:ב׳). בָּרְבִיעִית, הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם (שמות יב). בָּחֲמִישִׁית, חוֹזְרִין לִכְסִדְרָן. לַכֹּל מַפְסִיקִין, בְּרָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים, בַּחֲנֻכָּה וּבְפוּרִים, בַּתַּעֲנִיּוֹת וּבַמַּעֲמָדוֹת וּבְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים:
(4) On four Shabbatot during and surround-ing the month of Adar, a Torah portion of seasonal significance is read. When the New Moon of Adar occurs on Shabbat, the congregation reads the portion of Shekalim on that Shabbat. If the New Moon occurs during the middle of the week, they advance the reading of that portion to the previous Shabbat, and, in such a case, they interrupt the reading of the four portions on the following Shabbat, which would be the first Shabbat of the month of Adar, and no additional portion is read on it. On the second Shabbat, the Shabbat prior to Purim, they read the portion: “Remember what Amalek did” (Deuteronomy 25:17–19), which details the mitzva to remember and destroy the nation of Amalek. On the third Shabbat, they read the portion of the Red Heifer [Para] (Numbers 19:1–22), which details the purification process for one who became ritually impure through contact with a corpse. On the fourth Shabbat, they read the portion: “This month [haḥodesh] shall be for you” (Exodus 12:1–20), which describes the offering of the Paschal lamb. On the fifth Shabbat, they resume the regular weekly order of readings and no special portion is read. For all special days, the congregation interrupts the regular weekly order of readings, and a special portion relating to the character of the day is read. This applies on the New Moons, on Hanukkah, and on Purim, on fast days, and on the non-priestly watches, and on Yom Kippur.
…Parashat Zachor should be read on the Shabbat adjacent to Purim, to juxtapose the blotting out of Amalek with the blotting out of Haman. "Para aduma" - to alert Israel to purify themselves, so as to make their Pesach offerings in purity. "On the fourth, Ha-chodesh ha-zeh lachem" - for the portion of the Pesach offering is there.
...דלא הוי מדאורייתא דבאמת אין טעם בקריאת' מדאורייתא וגם לא ידענא היכא רמיזא...
For it [Para] is not on a Torah level, for there is really no reason from the Torah for its reading, and I also do not know where there is any hint [to it].
רב דוד אויערבאך, הליכות ביתה ט:ט
פרשת “פרה”, יש אומרים שהיא מן התורה, ולפ”ז [ולפי זה] יש לומר שגם נשים חייבות לשמוע פרשה זו— ויש אומרים שמצותה רק מדרבנן, ולפ”ז [ולפי זה] נשים פטורות.
Rav David Auerbach, Halichot Beitah 9:9
Parshat Para. There are those who say it is on a Torah level, and according to this one can say that women are also obligated to hear this portion. And there are those who say that this mitzva is only rabbinic, and according to this, women are exempt.
רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ אֲדָר שֶׁחָל לִהְיוֹת בְּשַׁבָּת, קוֹרִין בְּפָרָשַׁת שְׁקָלִים (שמות ל). חָל לִהְיוֹת בְּתוֹךְ הַשַּׁבָּת, מַקְדִּימִין לְשֶׁעָבַר... בַּשְּׁנִיָּה, זָכוֹר (דברים כה). בַּשְּׁלִישִׁית, פָּרָה אֲדֻמָּה (במדבר י״ט:ב׳). בָּרְבִיעִית, הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם (שמות יב)...
On Rosh Chodesh Adar, if it falls on Shabbat, we read Parashat Shekalim. If it falls during the week, we move [the reading] earlier…On the second [Shabbat, we read] Zachor. On the third, Para aduma. On the fourth, Ha-chodesh ha-zeh lachem…
Atara Snowbell, 'Parashat Shekalim,' Yutorah.org
…On the first of Adar we are reminded that our connection with the Jewish people could come across through our common goals – through the mahatzit hashekel….It is up to us to acknowledge the role we seek as part of the Jewish nation, and ensure that the goals which unite us are the correct ones…
"לָמָה ה' יֶחֱרֶה אַפְּךָ בְּעַמֶּךָ אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתָ מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם בְּכֹחַ גָּדוֹל וּבְיָד חֲזָקָה"
Morateinu Nechama Leibowitz's Questions