Chazal, our sages, teach that often after having celebrated a holiday, we want to linger a few days, remaining in the essence of the holy day.
Our days in Shushan have ended for this year, yet there is a way of staying here a bit longer because Purim is in the month of Adar. Our rabbis stated: “Mi-shenikhnas Adar marbim b’simcha; when Adar enters, we greatly increase joy.” We still have the rest of the month of Adar to increase joy.
Last Shabbas, I shared with our community that many years ago, as I stood with a couple beneath their chuppah, I said to them, “May the Holy One bless you with honeyed bliss.” During that Shabbas together, more Adar blessings came to me. May we be blessed with effortless ecstasy, glorious giggles, limitless laughter, miles of mirth, cascades of cheer, gobs of glee, hopeful happiness … I could go on, but so can you! Let’s ramp up our joy; be happy! It’s Adar.
The challenge will always be but, Rabbi, how to do this, when in the world around us despair, horror, anxiety, hatred, and deep sadness swirl. Rebbe Nachman of Bratslav taught: “Mitzvah g’dolah l’hiyot b’simcha tamid; it is a great mitzvah to be in joy always.” Another oy! How to be this; how to do this. Every morning awaken in gratefulness for another day to experience the precious gift of life. The wise words of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, z”l, “Just to be is a blessing; just to live is holy,” carry us into this, another day, every day.
There is another way to be in joy: live a life of purpose and presence; do the work that only you can do, the avodah of your n’shamah, your soul. I asked my community to come to our Purim celebration dressed as their heroes and sheroes, the people they most admire. I came to Purim dressed as RBG, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, z”l. I have to admit that only congregants of a certain age recognized me! I did get a lot of Judge Judys though! Every time we booed, hissed, and groggered at Haman, I gavelled and instructed him with RBG’s words. Her wisdom will resonate throughout the ages. Who were you costumed as for Purim? If you didn’t costume, who are the people you admire and strive to emulate; what are their teachings? On the wall of her office in the Supreme Court building, Justice Ginsburg had this pasuk, this verse, from Parashat Shoftim, “Tsedek, Tsedek, tirdof; Justice, Justice shall you pursue.” In her pursuit of justice, she was bold, present, and precise. She taught us, whatever you choose to do, leave tracks. That means don’t do it just for yourself. You will want to leave the world a little better for your having lived. We are here to do the mitzvah, the commandment, that is right in front of us each and every day that we live. Rabbi Tarfon wrote, “The day is short and the work is great!” Justice Ginsburg echoed his words generations later, saying, “Show up every day and do the work.”
Carry on in joy, it’s Adar!
