Adar and Simcha

“Just as one who enters Av decreases in joy, so too one who enters into Adar increases in happiness.” (Gemara Taanis 29a).  

What is the significance of saying about decreasing our joy in Av in relevance to increasing joy coming into Adar?  Perhaps we may explain that it comes to teach us that just as our lessening of joy is because of a Torah-related mourning, so too; we increase our joy for a Torah-related reason.

And indeed, Rashi HaKadosh explains the increase of joy with regards to Adar is because when we come into this month, we enter into a time with the days of Miracles, Purim and Pesach.  

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Some people, Rachmana Litzlan, always look for joy in material things -- whether it be eating, drinking, levity, etc.   But true happiness only comes from something deeper -- not such superficiality:  When we serve Hashem and connect to Him, that brings true and lasting joy. The Moadim -- Hashem’s Festivals -- come, and we increase in happiness.  This is not the fake and superficial kind; but the real joy.

In Hashem and His Torah, there is joy.  True and everlasting joy, which comes to those who follow Him.  Not fleeting happiness that leads to depression, R"L.

So now, as we come into Adar, let us all try to, with Hashem’s Help, take its lesson of true happiness -- and bring it with us for the entire year.

Indeed, The Apta Rebbe, HaRav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel zt”l taught: ‘When the month of Adar enters we increase joy -- marbin beSimcha.’ BeSimcha has the same Gematria (numerical value) as the word Shana, year. (They both equal 355.) This teaches us, he says, that the Simcha which awakens in a person during the month of Adar [indeed] carries over to the entire year! (Ohev Yisroel; Purim -- quoted in Song of Simcha).

Kol Tuv everyone, a Gut Nacht, and a Guten Chodesh!