60 DAYS OF JOY

Dear Family,

I hope that everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to Shlomo Vogel on his third birthday tonight (or is it Adar Sheini?). Wishing you a wonderful year, with a new haircut, new tzitzis and a new kappel Shlomo!

Mazal Tov to Shlomo Davidoff who turns two this coming week. Wishing you a happy year Shlomo with much nachas for your parents!

Mazal Tov to Sarita who has a birthday next week (again not sure if this is Adar Sheini?) Wishing you a year of much growth and achievement Sarita, and with happiness!

Mazal Tov to Roy Cobb on his birthday at the end of the week (again not sure if this is Adar Sheini). Wishing you a year of good health and happiness Roy!

This year is a Leap Year in the Jewish calendar and as a result there are 2 Adars. (Therefore apologies if I have got birthdays wrong this month!)

There is therefore 60 days of Adar, which means 60 DAYS OF JOY!

Connected to this, in the Rambam from this week, we have been learning about forbidden foods.

In Chap 15 we came across the concept of bittul beshishim - nullification with 60.

One of the questions here, is, if a forbidden food or substance falls into a pot of permitted food (of the same substance), does the permitted food become forbidden?

The answer is, if the ratio of the forbidden food is 1 in 60 or less, then the permitted food remains permitted. Ie the forbidden food becomes nullified, and may be eaten! (This is the Rabbinic concept of 'nullification in 60')

The Rebbe explained (Rosh Chodesh Adar 1 in 1992) that this concept also applies with the 60 days of Adar in a leap year.

Our efforts to be joyful in these 60 days, especially with the doing of Mitzvos, has the power to not only NULLIFY ALL NEGATIVITY, but it can also transform negativity into POSITIVITY (in the same way as prohibited food becomes, not only nullified in 60 measures of permitted food, but it can also be eaten)

Wishing all a Gut Shabbos and many opportunities to express joy.