COMMENTARY
March 2022
Federation Star
13A
The power of being joyful tense, aggravated, fearful, exasperated, infuriated, and many other synonyms that all have one thing in common: they are joyless. And is it any wonder? We don’t want to abandon our sensitivity to current affairs and become numb to news of disaster, but neither do we wish to become totally obsessed with it. With frightening events shown by the rise of antisemitism and the horror of Colleyville, for which we are so thankful to G-d that our prayers were
by negativity is neither wise nor healthy. It is hurting our mental health, our families and our communities. It has real Rabbi life consequences. Fishel What’s the alternative to frightening Zaklos darkness and depleting heaviness? We need energy that defies gravity and uplifts us. We need joy! he Jewish calendar has many This is not about denial — burying our special days, weeks and months. heads in the ground and closing our eyes First, there is Shabbat. Then, to the issues. No, this is about choosing there are the holidays, sometimes weekjoy as the healthiest antidote to cope and long or longer. Then there are full flourish in these times. months dedicated to a specific Judaism teaches us that Judaism teaches us that Simcha (joy) can theme that we are called upon Simcha (joy) can break break through all barriers. It helps us see through all barriers. Not only to bring into our lives. One such example is the month in which we is it necessary for our mental things from an objective and healthy find ourselves: the Hebrew month and emotional well-being, but perspective and, thus, allows us to live a of Adar. it is also lifesaving. It helps Jewish law teaches, “When the life of inner peace and mindfulness. us see things from an objecmonth of Adar is upon us, we add tive and healthy perspective in joy for the entire month.” You heard it and, thus, allows us to live a life of inner heard, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to right, an entire month dedicated to joy. peace and mindfulness. In addition to the remain unaffected by these headlines. Why so long? Because it takes an entire above, it’s a Mitzvah. Joy is a moral and I get it. It’s reasonable to be desponmonth to integrate joy into our lives. It’s dent. religious pursuit. not an easy task. When people live with joy, they are But just because it is reasonable does I think you will agree with me that empowered to face the struggles of life and not mean that it is wise, healthy or even joy is not too easy to come by in these fight them with bravery and optimism. A inevitable. You do not need me to tell anxious times. Far too many people are you that having our headspace rented fighter who shows up with a good attitude
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has a much better chance of winning the championship than someone who just fought with his spouse. In the fight to be our best selves (the worthiest battle of them all), we need to have an attitude that keeps us joyful so that we fight the good fight and live to our fullest potential, the way our Creator intended. That is why I couldn’t be any happier than to be in the month dedicated to upping our dose of joy! And this year, we are doubly blessed since it’s a leap year for the Jewish calendar. The full explanation of Jewish leap years would fill an entire article; suffice it to say, that, instead of adding an additional day, we add a whole extra month — two Adars! What could be better than an extra month of joy?! Dear friends, let us all wish each other L’chaim — to life, love and happiness, and may our lives be full of joy! We may have to consciously work at achieving it, but as an aspiring eternal optimist, I am prepared to brave accusations of naïveté for having hope and faith that our future news will be filled with positivity and joy. Rabbi Zaklos Fishel serves at Chabad Jewish Center of Naples.
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