Ohev Shalom Voice
Adar1 - February, 5768
Rabbi’s Message
At the approach of Adar We increase joy. (Taanis 29A)
Rambam (Kiddush Hachodesh) goes into great depth and detail revealing the forming of our calendar based upon the Scriptural description of the structure of the months and the year of the calendar (Exodus 12:1; 23:15 & 16 — Deut 16:1; Leviticus 23:2). The Torah repeatedly uses the term חדש which means “renewal” to describe a month. From this we learn that months are determined upon a cycle of renewal and decline. This is only when we use the moon as the basis of a month. The Torah also decrees that the Festivals follow the agricultural seasons. Pesach must fall out when the barley ripens; Shavuos when the wheat is ready for reaping and Succos at the time of harvest.
The lunar cycle is twenty nine days twelve and three quarters hours. Twelve lunar cycles add up to three hundred fifty four days, eight hours and forty eighty minutes. The solar cycle is three hundred sixty five days and six hours. The year of the sun is ten days, twelve hours and 12 minutes more than twelve lunar months. When a gap of thirty days occurs between the lunar and solar years, a thirteenth month is added to our calendar. Seven leap years are set during the course of nineteen years.
During the leap year a second month of Adar is added. This will delay Pesach until the new crop of lambs are born and the barley is ripe for the Omer. An additional factor is the drying of the roads for the pilgrims to facilitate the pilgrims travel to Jerusalem.
As of today, unfortunately, the Temple is not yet rebuilt and we do not have the privilege of offering the Paschal lamb nor the offering of the Omer. We can still learn a lesson and enjoy a benefit from the doubling of Adar.
The month which had been transformed for them from one of sorrow to one of gladness, and from of mourning to festivity. (Esther 9:22). Adar was chosen for the extra month. This allows us to enjoy on the leap year fifty nine happy, joyous, festive days. We should always take advantage of the opportunity emphasize the positive over the negative. We need to observe the month of Av with minimizing happiness just as we observe Adar by maximizing happiness (Taanis 29A). Av was not chosen for the extra month.
The right is positive and the left is negative. When washing and when donning clothing we do the right first (Shabbos 61A) and so when performing Mitzvos we use our right hand to emphasize the positive nature of joy and happiness.
Serve the L-rd with joy; come before Him with exultation. (Psalm 100:2)
עבדו את ה‘ בשמחה באו לפניו ברננה
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