How do we increase joy in Adar? |
In Memory of Hadar Cohen z”l who was murdered while
protecting The Talmud, Taanit 29a
states: Mishenichnas Av mamitin b’simcha, when the month of Av begins, we curtail
joy. Mishenichnas Adar marbin b’simcha,
when the month of Adar begins, we increase joy.
The Magen Avraham states that
in Av we not only curtail joy, we eliminate it as that was the month when the
Beit HaMikdash was destroyed.
According to Rashi, in Adar
we increase joy in commemoration for the miracles of Purim which took place in
Adar and in honor of the miracles of Pesach which took place in the following
month of Nisan.
How do we increase joy? On
Purim itself we have a feast with good food and wine. We also deliver Mishloach
Manot (food packages) to friends and Matanot L’Evyonim (gifts to the poor).
Our joy is increased when we
receive gifts. Is our joy also increased when we give to others?
In Parshat Trumah, B’nai
Yisrael are asked to bring gifts to contribute to the building of the Mishkan
(Tabernacle). They are asked to give their most precious possessions knowing
that they can’t be replaced in the desert. We see in Parshat Vayakhel that in
fact both the men and women are honored to contribute. Although their
possessions will not be returned to them, they find joy in the satisfaction of
being part of the construction of the Mishkan. Although they are giving away
material possessions they are rewarded with the spirituality that will rest in
the Mishkan.
The same can be said when
giving Mishloach Manot and Matanot L’Evyonim. Although we are physically giving
something up, our reward is the satisfaction in knowing that we are bringing
joy to others.
Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler, in
Michtav Me’Eliyahu states: “Man has been granted the sublime power of giving,
enabling him to be merciful, to bestow happiness, to give of himself. That
which a person gives to another is never lost. It is an extension of his being.
He can see a part of himself in the fellow-man to whom he has given. This is
the attachment between one man and his fellow to which we give the name ‘love’.
When a happy person is attached to God, they want to do good and make others
happy.”
On Purim, each one of us is
commanded to be both a giver and a receiver. As Rav Dessler explains: “He is
the giver whose giving flows from the goodness in his heart and whose receiving
immediately fills his heart with gratitude – in payment for whatever he
receives.”
If these mitzvot are only
observed on Purim, then how do we increase joy during the entire month of Adar
(and this year over an extra month of Adar as well)?
One way is to start by
thinking of who we want to give to and preparing our special gifts.
In
We must also keep in mind the
poor elderly residents in
Adar is the time to get
excited about Purim and spread joy and happiness to those around us.
If you would like to contribute
Mishloach Manot for the Border Patrol Soldiers and Matanot L’Evyonim for
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