Sixty Days of Joy
Today and tomorrow we begin sixty days of happiness!
What am I talking about?
Well, the Jewish Calendar has one month, Adar, which is known as the most joyous month on the calendar, mostly because of what happened in the story of Purim and what that message represents. Our sages famously stated, "When Adar enters, we increase in Joy", and indeed that is what we always do every year.
However this year, instead of thirty days of Adar, we will have sixty days, and that is because this year is a Jewish leap year, so the joyous month of Adar, is played twice.
Yes, the month of the year that represents joy and all of its blessings, is the month that we will now double up on and make sure that these next sixty days are full of joy, happiness and positivity.
The verse states "Serve G-d with Joy", and it used the word "Ivdoo" which implies hard work. No one ever said being joyful and happy is easy, especially when things are challenging, but nevertheless we are mandated to be happy and joyous in all that we do.
The verse states elsewhere, that Joy is not just another idea of Judaism, rather it is one of the cornerstones of all that we do and how we seek to live. Yes, the hope, joy and happiness for what we have, what we can give, and what we live for, is something that we try and take to heart each and every day, especially during these 60 days.
My daughter shared a video with me from the Sheba Medical Center, in which a soldier who had been critically wounded and had braces, bandages and so much more all over his body, managed to make it out of his room for a walk.
What does he do on his first walk out his room?
He carries a box, alongside his crutches of goodies and treats and goes around the ward, to uplift the injured soldiers..... Seeing him, the soldiers who are bedridden, literally rise up in joy at seeing his determination. As he says, "life is about giving" and nothing will stop him doing that and trying to help others.
The theme of Adar is not just joy, it is one of turning around negative situations and transforming them into positive ones. These are not just two distinct concepts, but indeed, it is the joy, positivity and meaning of life that helps us turn around the negative situations and march forward with joy and happiness, that will help us turnaround even challenging and difficult situations!
Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Adar Tov!
Yisroel