Rabbi Breit's Blog

The rabbis teach that we must increase our joy for Adar. And this year the month of Adar repeats, with the holiday of Purim (a pinnacle of rejoicing) held off until second Adar. So our calendar this year has served us a full extra month to be increasing joy. And it could come at no harder time. It this time in the life of our people, joy may feel hard, disingenuous, or disloyal. But Adar is here. And Purim is coming. And Purim Katan, or “Little Purim”, which we celebrate by having a festive meal or doing something joyous, is tomorrow. So what do you do?

Our parsha this week, Tetzaveh, deals with another tall order, given to Aaron — transforming ones self from slave into the holiest priest of the one God. You could only imagine Aaron turning to God and saying, “This comes at a hard time. I was a slave my whole life. I’ve never been a priest. How do I suddenly become, powerful, resplendent, and holy?” How do we create such revelry and joy when for so many months we have in some part been in near constant mourning?

Our parsha’s solution is to give instruction not about why Aaron should be holy or to wax poetic about what holiness is. It is not about It is the nitty-gritty how. The gorgeous details unfurl verse by verse, dictating the wrap and hem of his clothing, coat, and headdress — the pomegranates, the gold, the bells. The little bells on the hem of his robe are meant to protect him, ringing as he moves from room to room into the holy of holies. We are told detail by detail of the precious stones, braids, and fine twisted linen that should be made into his clothes.

We are given objects to make and actions to do. These objects and actions — sacrificing an animal, anointing himself in blood — make him safe and make him holy. So when we too are not sure how to feel joy, and maybe we've lost track of what joy even is or feels like, maybe we can start back at the fundamentals, the objects and the actions. Maybe you make a fabulous fringed costume (80s themed!) for the megillah reading. Maybe you create a beautiful shabbat meal in honor of Purim Katan. Maybe you bake hamantaschen for yourself and for your family. Maybe you give to the needy. Maybe you send presents to your friends and spend a day decorating the bags and filling them with beautiful fruits, gold, or precious stones. 

Pick an object. Pick an action. This Shabbat, practice joy. Shabbat shalom.