Rabbi's Message

Tonight begins the Hebrew month of Adar, about which the Talmud says Mi Shenikhas Adar Marbin B’Simha, when the month of Adar begins, our joy increases.  Our tradition attributes this to the Purim holiday, which we will celebrate in a couple of weeks.  We know joy and happiness are not emotions we can automatically feel simply because we turn a page on a calendar.  Especially in a time when our hearts are heavy from another very difficult week in Israel and with the anxiety and uncertainty stemming from the changes taking place in our country.  What is the source of the happiness we seek to experience, not just in the month of Adar but in life?  

Harvard recently completed an 85-year study to try to answer this question.  It found that the main key to happiness is relationships.  Even more than social class, IQ, or genetics, having supportive relationships and social connections were the strongest predictors for happiness, health, and longevity.  This is a lesson that an ancient midrash anticipated.  In reflecting on the command to build the mishkan, the tabernacle, which we read about in this week’s parashah, Terumah, the midrash teaches the importance of relationships.  It envisions God explaining to Moshe the reason for building the mishkan as follows:  “Every place that you go, make for me a small place, so that I may dwell in your midst.”  In Hebrew, the word for “to dwell” is she’adur, the root of which is the same letters that spell “Adar.”  

From this, we learn that the name of this joyous month, Adar, expresses God’s desire to be in a relationship with us.  But for that to happen, we need to open up a small place in our lives to let God in.  So, too with our relationships.  These require an extended hand and an open heart to let others in.  This is how we build relationships in our personal lives, with our families, and in our community.  Each time we come together for programs, for learning, for events and volunteering, for holidays and Shabbat, we have opportunities to build these relationships and social connections.  These relationships can give us support and help us to navigate our stressful and complicated world.

So whether you have been a regular or not, join us on this Shabbat where we will also mark Rosh Hodesh Adar, a month for joy which we achieve through relationships.  This Shabbat, we will also reflect on our relationship and responsibility to the stranger as we join together with congregations around the country to mark HIAS Refugee Shabbat. Click here for details.  Tonight, as Adar begins, let us commit to finding a deeper sense of joy by opening ourselves up to others.  And together, may we create more joy in our world.