B"H

Wednesday, 1 Adar 1, 5776 / February 10, 2016 – HAKHEL YEAR

Today is the second day Rosh Chodesh Adar 1. The reason for the additional month is that the Hebrew calendar year, which is based on a lunar cycle, consists of 354 days in contrast to the solar year which has 365 days.

Due to this difference, Passover will fall back 10 days each year and will eventually occur not in the spring, but during the other seasons of the year. But the Torah tells us that Passover must be celebrated in the spring. To adjust this, we make an an extra month every few years.

Our sages say, "Mishenichnas Adar, Marbim B'Simcha - "When Adar begins, we increase in joy."  Although we must serve G-d with happiness throughout the year, yet, we increase happiness in the month(s) of Adar, the month in which the miracle of Purim took place. Purim is celebrated in Adar 2. 

Simcha-Happiness is an important part of our service of G-d. King David in Psalm 100 says, "Serve

G-d with happiness, come before Him with joyous song." Every mitzvah performed with happiness, shows our appreciation to G-d for the opportunity to observe it. Our sages tell us that happiness comes from holiness, whereas sadness and dejection comes from the "other side."

According to the teachings of the Tanya, sadness and dejection are of the most powerful tactics of the Yetzer Hara (evil inclination). Through them, the Yetzer Hara traps a person into losing the will and strength to overcome any obstacles which may appear to be placed on the road of Torah and mitzvot.  As a result, the person will fall deeper into the clutches of the Yetzer Hara.

The Tanya explains this concept with a parable of two people engaged in battle. If one of the fighters is dejected and the other is happy and in good spirits, the happy person will be faster and have more energy to win the battle--even if his opponent is stronger. Thus, feelings of dejection and sadness take away one's will power and strength and will cause him to fail.

Throughout life, every person finds himself in the middle of a constant battle between good and evil. Therefore, we must think positive and be happy.

"Think good and it will be good!" a great Rebbe told his Chassid, who had a child who was so ill that the doctors had all given up hope. The Chassid listened to the Rebbe's directive and only thought positive.  Eventually, his son became well. "Throughout my life," the Chassid told his friends, "whenever there was a problem whether in health or business, I always remembered the Rebbe's command, "Think good and it will be good".  I didn't let the negative thoughts overcome me.  I would think positive, and just like the Rebbe predicted, things would turn out positive."

As we enter the month of Adar we should increase in happiness, think positive and the results will be  positive!

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HEALTHY, SUCCESSFUL, HAPPY CHODESH/MONTH