By the Grace of G-d
Dear Friend,
Today is the first day of the month of Adar the second. About Adar our sages tell us that we should increase in joy.
‘Joy about what?’ some may ask.
Life can quite rough at times.
The Talmud tells the story about Hillel. He was very poor. So poor that all he earned every day was one coin. He needed half a coin for feeding his family. And a half a coin to pay the entrance fee into the house of study of the famed master Talmudists of his time.
One day he didn’t earn enough money to pay the entrance fee. Not wanting to miss the lecture at the Yeshiva he climbed onto the roof and lay near the skylight to be able to hear the class. It started to snow, on top of him. The Rabbi looked up and noticed something amiss. A person was on the roof covered in snow. They brought Hillel down, warmed him up thus saving his life. Following that incident they removed the mandatory entrance fee to the hall of study.
Our sages tell us that Hillel’s behavior ‘obligates’ even the poor to make every effort to study Torah. If Hillel who was so poor, found a way to study, anyone can find a way to study. If they but put their mind to it.
Rabbi Elazar ben Charsum had the opposite problem. Rabbi Elazar is described in the Talmud as being very rich. Wealth often brings distractions. Managing wealth is not as easy as it looks from the outside. It has its own set of headaches. Yet, Rabbi Elazar’s Torah study was impeccable. He studied Torah day and night. This ‘obligates’ and takes away the excuses from the wealthy. They too can study Torah if they truly make an effort. Just like Rabbi Elazar.
There is a special young man having his birthday on Shabbat. Rabbi Yitzi Horowitz.
Rabbi Yitzi was diagnosed with ALS six years ago. He was an active Chabad rabbi till then in Temucala, California. Witty, personable, cheerful and single-minded about his mission.
The diagnosis of ALS came like a thunderbolt on a clear day.
Yitzi’s life changed unrecognizably.
His heroic wife and family have been by his side for the duration. His friends have rallied to his support. Eventually he lost all abilities except for the communication device that allows him to type via eye movements.
Rabbi Yitzi writes a weekly blog.
Almost always he is upbeat and positive. Acutely aware of his situation. Yet accepting that this is where Hashem has placed him. He knows that even in his limited physical capacity, he is an irreplaceable soldier in the ‘army of Hashem’.
Take a few moments to see Yitzy ‘say’ it in his own words.
Yitzi’s positive attitude against all odds, ‘obligates’ everyone to adopt a positive attitude about life. By his living a joyous life even under those circumstances he takes away any excuse one could come up with for not being happy.
There is a Yom Kippur war veteran who spends some time in our shul. When I ask him how he is he says that as he was taken to hospital after being wounded during the fighting he said ‘Baruch Hashem ani noshem’, ‘Thank G-d, I am breathing. (In Hebrew it rhymes). And he has continued to say it ever since. Giving thanks to G-d and recognizing that our mere breathing is something we should give praise and thanks to the Almighty for.
This is indeed a healthy attitude to life.
To count your blessings.
Starting from the fact that you can breathe.
And then continue noticing all the blessings you were granted from the moment you opened your eyes this morning and onward.
The morning blessings are exquisite in the way they point attention to all of the gifts we have, most of which we take for granted.
Take a moment to learn about the morning blessings in contemporary language.
The month of Adar 2 has started. Time to be happy!
And we have so much to be thankful and happy about.
Hey, if you try the happiness experiment you will see that happiness is contagious.
Smile at someone tomorrow morning. Hum a joyous tune. If you have the guts, do a little dance.
You will start a ‘simcha’ ‘joy’ revolution that will create a ripple effect with unimaginable results.
Shabbat Shalom and a very joyous month of Adar!
Rabbi Yosef Kantor
PS. In honor of Yitzi’s birthday an ambitious project has been launched, to gift Yitzi a mitzvah done in his honor. Click here for more info.