Adar II 5779 אדר ב

Friday, March 8, 2019.  I was unable to be out at the lake this month, but I was there in spirit. Here are some thoughts and photographs from Stephen:

Adar II brings us to the end of Exodus and thus the end of the grand narrative of the Jewish people from Abram in Iraq to Moses in the Sinai desert. It is with some wistfulness that we leave the vivid personalities of our forefathers and encounter the legalisms and 631 mitzvot of Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. As much as the grand narrative, such structures have provided the framework for millennia of Jewish life and with Adar II we begin the process.

The other aspect of Adar II is Purim and two aspects of it can be pointed out. The first is the agency of Vashti and Esther in asserting themselves. As we read the Megillah, these women should be kept in mind in light of International Women’s Day on Rosh Chodesh Adar II as well as the Equal Rights Amendment –ERA- that is closer than ever to passing.  The other aspect of Esther is the hiding of her Jewishness until the last moment at which she reveals the treachery of Haman. Our Jewishness, perhaps hidden on the social level in the 50s or 60s, is now proudly public and Adar II and Purim provides a moment to reflect on such a positive condition.   ––Stephen

I also want to add a supplement to last month’s entry on finding joy in Adar.  From time to time I check in at the Chabad web site – I am not in agreement with many of their authors on many topics, but there are some aspects of Judaism at which the Chabadniks excel – and one of them is finding reason to celebrate with joy on a daily basis.  This month I have been following Rabbi Tzvi Freeman (see link in resources), who writes “Daily Dose of Wisdom”, brief inspirations condensed from the writings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem M. Schneerson (z”l).  As we are in Adar, every day has been another thought, another part of the recipe, for joy and happiness.  I’ll leave you with this Daily Dose, from Rabbi Freeman:

“Happiness is not just contagious. It’s explosive.

Something enters a person’s life for which he could never be prepared, and his previously tidy self erupts in song, dance and joy.

Approach the divine with a calculated mind, and there is no window for joy. Embrace the infinite beyond mind, and let joy surprise you.”

—Kirby