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Message from the Rabbi
When Adar Begins, Your Joy is Increased!
The month of Adar began on Tuesday and Wednesday this past week. Here is what the Talmud (Ta’anith 29a) states about the month of Adar: “Mi’sheh’nichnas Adar, marbin b’simchah,” With the beginning of Adar, rejoicing is increased.
A person might think that this increase in joy is because Adar is the first month of spring. While winter is not completely gone, it is certainly on its way out. (OK, that may be true in Israel, but our recent snowstorm in La Crosse indicates that spring may be a longer time in coming!) While being the first month of spring may be enough reason for others to rejoice, the Jews have the wonderful holiday of Purim to make our spirits joyful.
Celebrated on the 14th day of the month of Adar, Purim is the holiday that commemorates good overcoming evil. This date corresponds this year to March 6 and 7.
In a nutshell, the story of Purim revolves around the plot, launched in the year 518 BCE by Haman (the wicked viceroy of the Persian-Median King Achashverosh), to kill all the Jews in Achashverosh’s kingdom. Haman’s hatred of the Jews reached a psychotic level when Mordechai, the leader of the Jewish community, refused to bow down to him.
Haman requested and was granted permission by Achashverosh to issue a decree calling for the death of all the Jews, to take place on the 15th of Adar. Haman, however, was unaware that Achashverosh’s new queen, Esther, was actually Jewish and was Mordechai’s cousin. With significant courage (and tremendous faith in God), Esther revealed Haman’s wicked plot to the king, thus saving the Jewish people.
In celebration of their salvation, the Jews feasted, gave charity (matanot l’evyonim) and exchanged gift baskets with each other (shalach manos or shaloach manot). They celebrated being alive with tremendous joy and rejoiced at being part of a wonderful nation. It is the energy of their joy that permeates the entire month of Adar so that even now, 2,500 years later, when Adar begins, rejoicing is increased.
Follow-up to last week’s alert – Several people have asked me if it was necessary to tell our members about the “Day of Hate” message that was appearing all over social media last week. Of course, we are so grateful that there were no reported incidents anywhere in the U.S., so far as we know. In consulting with your CSOA security team, and with other Wisconsin institutions, like the ADL and Milwaukee Jewish Federation, we need to make you aware of security concerns or threats. We welcome your suggestions for ways to improve these kinds of messages, so they will be more meaningful to you. Thank you for your valued feedback.
Shabbat Services
I must tell you how pleased I am that we have been getting a minyan at Friday and Saturday Shabbat services. Please continue to come, either in person or on Zoom!
Shabbat Shalom!
A Peaceful & Restful Shabbat!
Rabbi Brian Serle & Renana Friedman
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