As we enter the first week of the Hebrew month of Adar I, Rabbi Josh examines what our tradition has to teach us about joy, stemming from the Talmud’s suggestion that, “During the month of Adar, joy increases (BT Ta’anit 29A).”
This past year, Surgeon General Doctor Vivek Murthy released an advisory report entitled, “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” cataloging increasing rates of loneliness among Americans, as well as the myriad health risks posed by isolation to Americans’ health and well-being, including higher risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, and suicide. Healthy relationships and a sense of belonging, according to the report, reinforce our sense of joy and fulfillment, providing innumerable benefits to our health and wellness.
Jewish tradition has always been aware of the dangers of isolation and discourages detachment of the individual from the community. The great first Century sage, Hillel, warns his fellow Jews, “Never separate yourself from the community.” The Talmud takes this adjuration further, suggesting that one who distances themselves from the community will never enjoy the joys that their community experiences. Meanwhile, the Israeli theologian Rav Kook teaches that the community represents the source of vitality for every Jewish soul.
To find joy, then, we must foster and nurture meaningful communal connections that allow us to celebrate our joys, to mourn our sorrows, and to make meaning through our relationships with others. How might the embrace of our community increase our sense of joy during these months of Adar?
— Rabbi Josh Knobel