Purim, the holiday of Adar, commemorates the metamorphosis of Benei Yisrael's apparent 'bad' fortune to good.משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה. 'When Adar enters we augment with joy.' The festival of Purim marks the high point in the joy of the entire year. The Jewish year begins with the joy of the redemption of Pesach and concludes with the joy of the redemption of Purim. This Joy breaks through all barriers.
It is for this reason that Hodesh Adar is represented by the letter kuf (ף). The letter kuf is also the same word for "monkey" (קוף), the symbol of laughter of the month of Adar. This month's representative 'talent' (each month has its own talent or sense) is therefore, LAUGHTER! We should aim to fill each day of this month with laughter and joy and lightheartedness that will Be'Ezrat HaShem carry us through for the upcoming year!
This month's mazal is represented by fish. The Kabbalah considers fish to be a symbol for the 'concealed reality' considering that they live in the depths of the waters and are concealed from the eye. Sometimes in life, we may not understand the purpose behind things, they seem hidden to us, but we must firmly believe that no matter how far salvation may seem, it will always reveal itself. And not only that; we will realize that it was all for the good too!
This is why Hodesh Adar is represented by the shevet (tribe) of Naftali. In Kabbalah, the name Naftali (נפתלי) is read as two words that mean 'sweetness is to me' (נפת לי). No matter what we are ever going through in life, it should feel like sweetness in our mouths knowing that even though we don't always see it, every single thing that happens to us is for the ultimate good, and if it feels not so good now, IT WILL SURELY TURN INTO GOOD!!
Be'Ezrat HaShem may this be a month filled with continuous joy and laughter, and a realization that nothing in life stays as it is, and that everything is always changing only to lead to the ultimate good-- the Will of HaShem! May all those moments that may not have been our best, turn into our highest and most celebrated ones! May this be a month of yeshuot (salvation) for all of Kelal Yisrael, Amen!
Adapted from the teachings of HaRav Yitschak Ginsburgh at www.inner.org
Hodesh Adar Tov uMevorakh!!!!
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