A JOYOUS FAST DAY
Dear Family,
I hope everyone is well.
We wish Avi and all the Vogel Family again, long life on the Shloshim of the passing of their dear father, and our dear friend Reb Yisroel Meir ben Yechezkel. His neshamah should have an aliyah.
Mazal Tov to Roy on his birthday next week. Wishing you until 120 Roy, in good health and happiness!
Mazal Tov to Alisa on her birthday this coming week. Wishing you a great year with your growing Family Alisa!
Mazal Tov to Sarita whose birthday is tonight. Wishing you a wonderful year Sarita, with much achievement and happiness in all areas!
We learnt an interesting sicha from the Rebbe this week on Parshas Tetzaveh.
The Rebbe's sichos are very deep and intricate, and I will try and keep it as summarised as possible.
It shows an interesting connection between the Sedra, Mosheh Rabeinu, 7th of Adar, Purim, Pesach, Leap Year and Fast Day
The Sedra
Through the whole story of Moshe Rabeinu, Moshe's name appears in every single Sedra except this one. In this week's Sedra we only get a hint of Mosheh with the word atah (you) ie Veatah Tetzaveh es Bnei Yisrael
So why is Mosheh's name missing in this Sedra?
Some say this is alluding to the passing of Mosheh.
But on the other hand the whole Sedra is talking about Mosheh in a hidden way through the link to the word ata. So really Mosheh is highly present rather than missing!
Mosheh Rabeinu
This week on the 7th of Adar, is both Mosheh's yohrtzeit and birthday on the same day!
And the 7th of Adar falls out on most years in close proximity to this weeks parsha, as it does this year.
Which makes the above question even stronger as to why Mosheh's name is left out particularly in Parshas Tetzaveh!?
7th of Adar
This day was declared as a fast day in Shulchan Aruch due to the passing of Mosheh.
But on the other hand because Mosheh's birthday was also on the 7th of Adar, it was also a day of great rejoicing. - Tosfos Nazir 14a
Purim
Gemarra Megillah - When Haman was plotting to destroy the Jewish People, the lot fell on Adar, and he rejoiced greatly, thinking that it was a month that he would succeed, because that was the month that Mosheh passed away.
But Haman did not know that it was also the month that Mosheh was born! And this caused his decree to be annulled, and sparked the miracle of Purim!
The Gemarra implies that Mosheh's birth outweighs Mosheh's passing.
And we see that Mosheh's birth was the cause of Purim, a day of celebration for all time.
And Rashi indicates there that the day ie 7th Adar, is clearly a day for only rejoicing.
And Gemorra Taanis indicates that "When Adar begins we increase in joy" ie The whole of Adar is filled with joy from day 1.
Pesach
Gemorra Taanis - Rashi comments (on the phrase "When Adar begins we increase in joy") - "These were the days of miracles for Israel - Purim and Pesach.
This implies that we increase in joy right from the beginning of Adar, all the way through.
And the 7th of Adar, through the birth of Mosheh, was also the cause of our liberation from Egypt on Pesach.
Leap Year
If Rashi is linking the joy of Adar to both the miracles of Purim and Pesach, does this mean that it only applies to the Second Adar?
The Magen Avraham rules that a fast day is observed on 7th Adar Rishon.
It therefore emerges that WE MUST ALSO INCREASE IN JOY FROM THE BEGINNING OF ADAR RISHON.
Clearly however, the degree of joy of Adar Rishon is not comparable to the joy of Adar Sheini, when the actual day of Purim falls.
Fast Day
We know that the nature of the fast day of 7th of Adar is a happy one.
In fact this day is so auspicious that it brought about the entire miracle of Purim and it colours the entire month with joy.
Therefore we see that the reason that we fast is not because of some flaw in the day, but rather to set us on a path of Teshuvah. And the fact that Mosheh was born on this day, contributes to us doing a loftier and more effective teshuva ie WE FAST OUT OF JOY - JUST AS ALL MITZVOS MUST BE PROPELLED BY JOY.
Some Answers
So why does Shulchan Aruch only mention the7th of Adar as a fast day and gives no mention to celebrate Mosheh's birth?
The question itself alludes to the answer - The auspicious aspect of the day is so sublime that it cannot be channelled into revealed joy in this lower world. Rather it remains hidden and exerts influence as a causal force acting in a detached way (Or HaTorah Yisro etc)
And on this basis we can appreciate why Mosheh's name does not appear openly in our Parsha, because in a revealed sense, the 7th of Adar is a fast day, a day of demise.
But on a deeper level, it is because his ESSENCE is present, and it is beyond representation.
This is the inner dimension of the 7th of Adar.
On this day very Jew can connect with this level, the ultimate perfection of Mosheh's birth, a level beyond any name or revelation with a sublime joy.
Wishing everyone a Gut Shabbos, and continued joy through both the months of Adar!