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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Purim & The Month of Adar
- The Happiness in Purim
We are now smack dab in the middle of the Adars; volume I and volume II of this unusual final month that occurs seven times during each 19 year cycle, what we call the Jewish Leap Year. Adar is considered the most joyous month in the Hebrew calendar; its motto is, "When Adar comes, happiness abounds." Perhaps this is because it concludes our Biblical year, and so we can bless the fact that we have survived to celebrate yet another birthday. Or perhaps it is because Adar contains within it the festival of Purim, the most raucous of all our holidays, characterized by masquerade parties, over-the-top banquets and even semi-obligatory inebriation. Mordechai’s exuberant proclamation at the close of Megilat Esther, "For the Jews there was light and gladness, joy and honor" best sums up Purim’s celebratory mood.
But can we be commanded to be happy? Is happiness a state of mind that is divinely imposed upon us - with or without our consent - or is there some secret to attaining this gift of joy? The answer – in typical Jewish fashion – is Yes, both are true. Simcha is bestowed to us as a spiritual imperative, but it is also something we earn due to our own efforts.
The rabbis wisely include joy as a necessary component of Jewish life. They understand that Jewish life may never be a stress-free or danger-free Nirvana; there will always be some dark cloud that threatens to envelop us, some disaster – or presumed disaster – just around the corner. And so they insist that at least some of our days be tinged with positivity and optimism. They therefore declare that every Shabbat should include the component of Oneg Shabbat, the joy of Shabbat; and every festival must contain the element of Simchat Yom Tov.
This may be achieved in numerous ways: Food, of course, is central, and so meals on these days should create the mood and ambience of a special occasion. Wine should flow, at least three meals must be served (many add a fourth on Saturday night, the Melava Malka) and the quality of this menu should clearly outshine that of the weekdays. Indeed, many people would save their pennies to buy delicacies like fish or beef reserved only for Shabbat and Chag, and even to this day there are many observant Jews who will not eat meat meals after Wednesday, so as to build anticipation for the holy day.
Clothes also set the mood, and we save our "Sunday best" for Shabbat and Chag. This is particularly essential for our wives and our daughters – who certainly look better dressed up than we men do! – and so the holidays of Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashana and Sukkot customarily include purchasing new clothes for the ladies, upon which they can pronounce the Shehecheyanu blessing. Children are not left out, either; special candies and treats should also uplift their spirits.
All these various things serve to fulfill the Biblical imperative: "V’Samachta B’Chagecha," you must rejoice in your holidays. The underlying idea is that people cannot fully connect to God while in a state of sadness or vexation; unless we are at peace with ourselves and reasonably satisfied with our lot in life, we cannot fully commune with our Creator, and be whole. The Talmud says that the Shechina – God’s presence on earth – can only rest upon one who is filled with Simcha. That is why the prophets would calm themselves and meditate, often to the sound of soothing music, in order to "get in the mood" before attempting to receive a Divine message. In fact, the rabbis advised that one should avoid praying while in sorrow or anger, for those emotions run counter to our belief that all things emanate from God, ultimately for the good.
There is also a concept of Simcha shel Mitzva, the joy that derives from aligning with God’s will and following His path. This sensation can be felt when we study the Torah, and marvel at its ultimate wisdom; or when we fulfill a commandment, such as observing Shabbat or participating in a Pesach Seder, when we feel as if we are rising above our mortal selves and partnering with the Almighty. It can even transcend anxious moments, and turn pain into pleasure, as when we experience joy at a brit mila, even as our baby’s blood flows; at a child’s wedding, even when we know that our children are leaving home to start their own journeys; and at the conclusion of Yom Kippur prayers, when our exhilaration overwhelms our hunger and we sense our blessed release from our transgressions.
And so Rabbi Nachman of Breslov famously declared, "Mitzva Gedola l’hyot b’simcha tamid," it is a great Mitzva to always be happy, with some reversing the sentence to read, "Simcha Gedola l’hyot b’Mitzva tamid! - it is a great joy to always be involved in Mitzvot." Maimonides wrote, in fact, that it is a sin not to be happy, quoting the verse in Deuteronomy 28 that tragedy and curses came upon the Jewish people "because you did not serve God with joy, when your lives were abundant."
Perhaps the greatest expression of this Mitzva-Simcha duality comes when we share our joy with others, for when we bring happiness to someone else, we are truly God-like, emulating the
God who bestows gifts on his creations in a thousand different ways. Indeed, the rabbis rule that while there are several Mitzvot that are commanded on Purim, such as hearing the Book of Esther read or participating in a feast, the most important one of all is Matanot L’Evyonim, the giving of gifts to the poor. Rabbi Lord Jonathan writes that "Simcha and sharing are inextricably connected;" Rabbi Nachman likens the act of giving to a host at a wedding who pulls a hesitant outsider into the circle of dancing, giving him a feeling of honor that lifts his spirits and raises his self-esteem.
In these semi-annual leap years, we are blessed with a double-dose of opportunity, 60 days rather than the usual 30 to surround ourselves with an extra measure of joy, to refrain from thinking only about the troubles in Eastern Europe, the Covid crisis or the rising cost of commodities. For at least some of these twin months of Adar, Don’t Worry – Be Happy!
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 6 - The Parable of the King of India
The advantages of testimony over circumstantial evidence or philosophical speculation.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
