Our tradition teaches that different intervals of the year can be characterized by specific emotional traits. For instance, the summer month of Av is a time when happiness decreases, for we remember the destruction of the Temple (Mishnah Taanit 29a) and other painful moments in Jewish history. The month following Av is the month of Elul, a time for introspection and thoughtful reflection leading up to our Days of Awe. And of course, this current month of Adar is one in which happiness increases as we step into warmer days and the celebration of Purim and soon Pesach. The great teacher Rashi said of Adar: “These are days of miracles for the community of Israel, Purim and Passover thereafter.”
This year, we marked a leap year in the Jewish calendar and enjoyed two full months of Adar. And now we are in the final week of Adar II before Nisan, a transitional period between the heart-filling silliness of Purim and the hopeful redemption of Passover. After everything we have been through since October 7th, it’s almost as if our emotionally charged calendar system intuited that we needed an extra helping of Adar this year, an extra stretch of marked time for laughs, release, celebration, and renewal.
What time of year is your personal favorite? As we close out this double serving of Adar, what are you looking forward to as part of your Passover observance? Considering the state of the world, what about our holiday observance will require adjustment this Pesach? How can we carry the best of this Adar season—our shared joy and dedication for our tradition—to our seder tables and into the rest of the year?
Shavuah tov, to a good week and a meaningful season ahead.
— Cantor Emma Lutz