ליהודים היתה אורה ושמחה וששון
The Month of Adar and Purim
We are now in the joyous month of Adar. The sages teach, “When the month of Adar begins we increase our joy”. We know that the reason for our joy in this month is because the great miracle of Purim, in which the evil minister of Persia, Haman, may his name be blotted out, schemed to annihilate all the Jews from the provinces of Persia-Medea in one day, the 13th of Adar but his plan was overturned (and he himself was hung on the gallows) happened in the month of Adar. But from the sages teaching it seems that the entire month is designated as a month of joy rather than just celebrating on the auspicious day the 13th day of Adar. In fact, the holiday of Purim is celebrated on the 14th day of Adar (as well as on the 15th day in specific localities).
A reading of the verses in the Book of Esther, Chapter 9 are in order.
Verses 21-22 state: “…to enjoin them to make the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and the fifteenth day thereof, every year; כא.
As the days when the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month that was reversed for them from grief to joy and from mourning to a festive day-to make them days of feasting and joy.”
The celebration of the miracle is observed on “the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and the fifteenth day thereof, every year; כא.
As the days when the Jews rested from their enemies” the verses do not state the days that “they avenged the enemy” or “hung the enemy”, rather “As the days when the Jews rested from their enemies”. Jews do not rejoice over the downfall of their enemies, rather they rejoice at the prospect of the salvation by which they can now continue to serve H-shem without oppression as before the decree
“And the month that was reversed for them from grief to joy” Here the focus is on the month (of Adar) as a “month that was reversed from grief to joy” this would imply that the month itself has auspicious qualities. When Haman cast the lots, undoubtedly with the aid of sorcery
In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, one cast the pur-that is the lot-before Haman from day to day and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
A reading of the verses in the Book of Esther, Chapter 9 are in order.
Verses 21-22 state: “…to enjoin them to make the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and the fifteenth day thereof, every year; כא.
As the days when the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month that was reversed for them from grief to joy and from mourning to a festive day-to make them days of feasting and joy.”
The celebration of the miracle is observed on “the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and the fifteenth day thereof, every year; כא.
As the days when the Jews rested from their enemies” the verses do not state the days that “they avenged the enemy” or “hung the enemy”, rather “As the days when the Jews rested from their enemies”. Jews do not rejoice over the downfall of their enemies, rather they rejoice at the prospect of the salvation by which they can now continue to serve H-shem without oppression as before the decree
“And the month that was reversed for them from grief to joy” Here the focus is on the month (of Adar) as a “month that was reversed from grief to joy” this would imply that the month itself has auspicious qualities. When Haman cast the lots, undoubtedly with the aid of sorcery
In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, one cast the pur-that is the lot-before Haman from day to day and from month to month, to the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.
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