It's Adar!

It is so easy to let events overtake our lives.  The calls on our time are innumerable.  How then do we live a meaningful life when the phone rings incessantly?  How do we focus on love when the “text” function dings again?  The stock market does another nose-time.  Time to sweat.  But, wait, the children are crying….

We tend to think these things are new.  They are not.  Time is finite.  The calls on our time are infinite.  It has always been that way.

But I have good news.  This is the month of Adar (this Hebrew month according to the lunar calendar).  So what does Tradition tell us about Adar?  It says, “Be happy!”  So, Judaism says to be happy.  How do I do that?  How do I lay aside the annoyances of e-mail and bills and be happy?

Let me share a story from the great Maggid of Dubno:

Once a great ship was proudly sailing the seas.  She carried many important merchants bringing huge quantities of merchandise.  Far out in the ocean, a violent storm arose and the ship was in danger of sinking. The captain called the passengers together and asked that they throw any extraneous cargo overboard or else they may all drown.  The merchants, anxious to save their lives, began to bring out their precious possessions and toss them overboard.  One of the merchants, however, who was known to have with him considerable wealth, was about to cast over his valuables along with his tallit and tefillin.  His companions protested, “Fool!  Throw the precious gems over because you can do without them, but not those!  They are our life!”

            What the Maggid was telling his audience is that we determine what is valuable and what is not.  We decide the importance of all things.  In other words, we can actually make the decision to be happy.  So in a few weeks we will celebrate Purim.  We can come in masks and drink.  We can shout and parade.  We can eat and laugh raucously (March 24).  And it is all good.  You will choose to participate and make merry.  Or not.

Look at what the Talmud says: 

“If your head aches, study Torah.  If your throat aches, study Torah.  If your stomach aches, study Torah.  If your bones ache, study Torah.  The Torah is the cure for all ailments.”  (Eruvvin 53) 

Is this true?  Of course it is.  You know in your heart that it bears holy truth.  When we elevate pain (physical or psychological) it sharpens.  When we focus on G-d earthly demands fade.  They may not disappear but they no longer occupy all our attention and so become less important.

Talmud study happens every Shabbat (shh! Don’t tell too many people), adult education is ongoing, services are held every day and , best of all, God is always present.

“Slow me down, Lord, I am going too fast,

I can’t see my brother when he’s walking past.

I miss a lot of good things day by day;

I don’t know a blessing when it comes my way…

Slow me down, Lord, so I can talk

With some of your angels –

Slow me down to a walk.” -author unknown

Make of you days what you want them to be.  Choose the Rock of Ages.  And “don’t worry be happy. “ It’s Adar.