Adar I 5779 אדר א

Wednesday, February 6, 2019.   What a paradox, that we should start the joyful month of Adar on a gloomy day.  It was dark this morning, if a little warmer than the last week. Tree branches were silhouetted against the ice on the lake.  We stood under an umbrella in the rain to say the blessings for the New Moon.

Entering Adar is always a challenge for me – I’m not much of a joker.  I try to conjure my usual New Moon spiritual feeling, and all I can think is “I’m supposed to be happy, laugh and be silly for a whole month?” And in this leap year, it’s even worse – sixty days!  Whether due to circumstances or inherent traits, I’m too sincere to be able to tell a joke well – when I do attempt such a thing, no one laughs.   It’s hopeless. I’m reminded of the famous line from Once, the musical:  “I’m always serious.  I’m Czech”.  Just substitute my name for the “Czech” part.

So I was intrigued with our source Mindy Ribner’s take on the essence of Adar.  In her words:  “There is a heavenly flow of joy this month, but we must also do our part to claim it as well as increase it.”  Then she goes on to give us a very specific prescription, even a recipe, for how to fulfill this mitzvah:

• Commit to increasing joy in your life.
• Eliminate or reduce what does not generate joy in your life and open to what does.
• Serve G-d with joy.
• Wipe out your personal Amalek (whatever is robbing you of joy)
• See G-d’s hand in your life – remember that G-d does have a sense of humor
• Give charity – which brings joy to you and to the recipient
• Dress up in a costume for Purim
• Try to be as happy as you can
• Tell jokes (or at least try)
• Give gifts to friends and those less fortunate

Well if that isn’t a step-by-step for those of us who could use some practice!  I’ll be back in a month – may we all have a happy and joyful one! —-Kirby