The Jewish default is joy | Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

The Jewish default is joy

 The famous and energetic song enthusiastically shares the words of our Sages, “When Adar enters, we increase in joy!” However, the less well-known but more complete statement reads, “Just as when Av enters, we decrease in joy, so too when Adar enters, we increase in joy.” (Taanis 29a). In fact, based on their juxtaposition, the halacha to increase in joy during Adar is only a Talmudic extrapolation on the Mishnaic teaching (Taanis 4:6) to decrease in joy during Av.

Both from practical observation and based on textual analysis, we seem to be faced with a contradiction: On the one hand, the joy of Adar is only an outgrowth based on the fundamental melancholy of Av. On the other hand, the magnitude and pervasiveness of the joy of Adar, extending to all endeavors – ritual and mundane, clearly eclipse their opposite during Av.

King David beseeches all to “Serve the L-rd with joy…” (Tehillim 100:2). In fact, the necessity of joy is conspicuous throughout Judaism – from verses in Torah to famous Chassidic aphorisms. The dichotomy of Adar is thus resolved when considering that the default position of the Jew is joy!

Every hour of every day throughout the entire year, even during the somber Nine Days and the month of Av, one is to be joyous. Though the gladness might be somewhat mitigated when Av arrives, the underlying canvas of joy is always present. How much more is this the case when the month of Adar is upon us.

In plumbing the depths of Hashem’s desire to create the Universe, the Midrash Tanchuma (Nasso 16) proclaims that “the Holy One, Blessed is He, desired a dwelling place in the lower worlds.” This yearning found physical expression in the command, “And they shall make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell in their midst.” (Shemos 25:8) In learning Torah, fulfilling mitzvos, and adding in acts of goodness and kindness, we are charged with building this divine dwelling and meriting the Third Holy Temple.

Nevertheless, a prospective plot of land must be cleared of brush and leveled before beginning to build a home. In fact, this destructive first step is considered part of the overall constructive endeavor (Mishneh Torah, Hilchos Shabbos 1:18). The same is the case with the spiritual necessity to eliminate unsightly behaviors or middos that might stand in the way of ascending the rungs of Divine service. For this very reason, there might sometimes be a need to temper the natural joy of Yiddishkeit, but only as a preparation for a subsequent and greater spiritual achievement. The essential joy, however, is never forgotten, and is that much greater of an ascent when following a descent.

Finding ourselves in the midst of a double-portion of Adar (this year being a Jewish leap-year), we stand on the brink of a paradigm shift ­– leaving the experience of exile and heralding the immediate redemption with the coming of Moshiach, speedily in our days.

Rabbi Michoel Feinstein leads Chabad of the Bay Area for the Green Bay area, 3607 Libal St., Allouez, Wisconsin.