Part I
Mishenichnas Adar, marbim besimchah. When Adar comes,
we increase our joy.
We are all familiar with this famous Chazal. With a cheerful
melody, it has become Purim's theme song. But this saying
holds more meaning than a simple ditty. What joy is Chazal
referring to here? Is this simchah merely the
festivity associated with Purim? Chazal are surely alluding
to something more profound than hamantashen and
costumes. Let's take a deeper look at the joy of Adar.
Purim and Pesach
To begin, let us examine the juxtaposition of Purim to
Pesach. The closeness of these two holidays is certainly not
coincidental. Apparently, the joy that increases in Adar
should keep growing until it peaks on Pesach.
Chronologically, the incidents of Pesach -- the exodus from
Egypt -- occurred before the Purim story. However, Hashem
arranged it that each year we celebrate Purim first. The
simchah begins with the approach of Purim. The joy
increases on Purim, and continues to expand until Pesach.
Both Purim and Pesach revolve around the concept of miracle.
Commenting on the above Chazal, Rashi says that Purim and
Pesach are days of miracles for the Jewish people. He seems
to link joy with miracles and sees the miracles of Purim and
Pesach as the cause of Adar's increased simchah.
What is the direct relationship between miracle and joy? In
general, true simchah is the product of contentment
and is interrelated with shleimus, a feeling of
completion. Apparently, focusing on the miracles of Purim
(and Pesach) should fill us with this sense of completion.
This shleimus brings about the joy of Adar.
Miracles--Hidden and Revealed
The first step towards gaining a sense of completion is
contemplating the miracles of Purim. We have discussed in
previous essays Chazal's enigmatic question: Esther min
haTorah minayin? Where do we find Esther in the Torah?
The answer given is ve'onochi hasteir astir ponai meihem .
. .I will surely hide My face from them -- a sort of
curse Hashem reserves for times when the Jewish people are
not fulfilling His will.
We know that Hashem is always with us, but at certain times
His involvement in our lives is concealed. A ness, or
miracle, is when something unusual happens generating a
feeling of closeness to Hashem.
The Purim story represents the highest level of ness
nistar, hidden miracle. No earth-shattering display
occurred. Yet, without mentioning Hashem's Name directly, the
Megilloh paints a picture of blatantly unusual events
occurring, which ultimately lead to the Jewish people's
salvation. Even a first- time reader of the Megilloh clearly
sees Hashem's involvement, albeit behind the scenes. This is
the recognition of a concealed miracle.
The Pesach episode represents the height of ness
nigleh, revealed miracle. From the Ten Plagues to the
Splitting of the Sea, we see outright changes in the normal
course of nature. Here we have an even more intense awareness
of Hashem's involvement in the lives of the Jewish people.
We would like to be on the level of experiencing revealed
miracles, but generally we relate more to the Purim level,
looking for Hashem's hidden involvement. One area of hidden
miracle, which the Ramban points out, is reward and
punishment.
Particular to Eretz Yisroel is Hashem's demonstrating His
relationship with us through rain. When we behave as we
should, we have rain. When we should improve, Hashem
withholds the rain, calling us to do teshuva. The
rain's relationship to our behavior cannot be explained
scientifically. It is beyond nature. In other words, it is
miraculous.
The basic formula is that however we relate to Hashem is how
He relates to us. We see this both in rainfall and many other
life occurrences.
According to the Ramban, once one focuses on Hashem's
revealed miracles, he comes to acknowledge the hidden
miracles in his life. However, this approach contradicts our
calendar order of Purim and Pesach.
The answer seems to be that since we have already experienced
the open miracles of Pesach at the beginning of our year, we
are given opportunity throughout the year to notice Hashem's
concealed hand. Our search and discovery is completed when we
apply the Purim lesson to our lives and find Hashem's hand in
completely natural events. After removing all natural
curtains and veils, totally exposing Hashem's helping hand,
we earn the right to see Hashem in a revealed form.
This sense and realization of Hashem's involvement in every
detail of our lives develops an intense feeling of closeness
to Hashem. Since coming close to Hashem is our life's
purpose, we will experience a sublime feeling of contentment,
which is simchah.
Mitzvos with Simchah
The Rambam elaborates on this concept of simchah. He
explains that Hashem wants us to serve Him with joy. A
servant who performs his duty mechanically does not compare
to one who serves his master with enthusiasm. Hashem bestows
His goodness upon us in order for us to serve Him with joy.
If we do so, Hashem increases His goodness and grants us more
opportunity to serve Him with joy.
But the Rambam also says that if we are not happy doing
mitzvos, Hashem will deprive us. Hashem will diminish His
goodness and make it difficult for us to serve Him.
In essence, if we are happy serving Hashem, we are given more
opportunity to serve and appreciate him. But, if we are
unhappy serving Him, we will be given less opportunity to
serve and appreciate Him.
Thus, when one fails to rejoice in doing mitzvos, he will be
miserable with his life. By adopting a negative attitude
towards avodas Hashem, he is actually choosing misery.
Conversely, when one adopts a positive attitude towards
avodas Hashem, he is choosing happiness.
As we explained, simchah comes from a feeling of
contentment. So why are we not content? And how can we change
that feeling?
Chovos Halevovos explains that our happiness depends on our
level of expectation. Although Hashem blesses a person with
bounty, if he fails to appreciate it, he turns his blessing
into a curse. Because we feel we deserve so much, we are
rarely content with what we receive.
Joy Brings More Joy
Intellectually we know that Hashem knows what is good for us
and that if something is good for us, Hashem will give it to
us. But our imagination plays tricks on us, shrewdly
convincing us that we need more. If we can develop the
feeling of meirov kol, that we have everything we
need, then we will acquire full contentment.
Indeed, this is what the Torah conveys to us when saying,
"Tachas asher lo ovadto es Hashem Elokecho besimchah
uvetuv leivov meirov kol." Moshe Rabbenu says that we
would receive Hashem's bounty if we served Him with happiness
and contentment, feeling the abundance of everything we have.
If we take the time to appreciate the myriad blessings we
receive from Hashem instead of focusing on our lacks, Hashem
will give us even more so that we can further appreciate Him
and elevate our avodas Hashem.
Living a life of contentment is a lofty goal, but it is
within our reach. Rabbeinu Yonah says that we should reach
the point of so appreciating Hashem that we actually thank
Him for our hardships. We would then see the trials as gifts
from Hashem, too.
Rabbeinu Yonah explains that this concept has two levels. The
higher level is to dance when in pain, due to one's full
acceptance and joy in Hashem's providence. The second level
is for one to retain his emunah, even though he cannot
actually dance during his painful experience. When it is all
over, he can appreciate it and thank Hashem in retrospect.
The lesson of Purim is to feel Hashem's involvement in our
lives. During the month of Adar, we can develop this feeling
by looking back at life circumstances that may have seemed
difficult or perplexing and see how they actually brought us
to a better situation.
For example, one may think back to the time he lost his job --
a disappointing shock at the time. Afterwards, new and better
avenues opened up. Such occurrences happen many times in life
but are often unnoticed. If we tap into the spiritual energy
of Adar and take notice of Hashem's involvement in our lives,
we will truly be marbim besimchah, increasing our
joy.
Esther wrote down the Megilloh to teach this lesson to all
generations. Focusing on Hashem's loving interest in our
lives brings our neshomoh a feeling of contentment.
And when our neshomoh is content, we are content and
besimchah.
End of Part I -- Next week: Ahavas Hashem on Purim
