A joy that has no bounce

Each month in the Jewish calendar symbolises many things, one of which is the general energy for that month.  The energy of the month fills through every aspect of our lives, if we pay attention. The month of Adar, the month in which Purim falls, is the month of Joy!  What better month to make plans for the future, to get married, to start a new partnership, a new job or just to
relax, than on the month where Joy rains upon us?

However, be mindful that there are two types of joy. There is the light-hearted, ecstatic, playful and, for me, bouncy joy, like the joy of a child at play. The second kind of joy is the joy that comes from toiling all night, all week, all month or all year with ourselves.  The joy after hours, days, weeks or months of cleansing the soul of the many darknesses that it holds from past mistakes, negative conditioning, and mistaken projections.

It is the joy that is waiting for you, once you have journeyed to the depths of your “Gehenum“ and rectified whatever needed to be cleansed or awakened there. It’s a joy that has no bounce because it fills the entirety of your reality and your universe. It is the joy of being on the journey of a lifetime, knowing that even when you are in the depths of despair, there is a light waiting for you on the other side.

Wishing you a happy, joyful Purim—a freiliche Purim and Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Adrian M Schell

Mazal Tov to Carla (Rubin), daughter of Linda and Alan Rubin, and Jason Danker who were married on 17 March
Mazal Tov to Carla (Rubin), daughter of Linda and Alan Rubin, and Jason Danker who were married on 17 March