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A Rabbi's Reflections |
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"Lighten Up" "Lighten up, Rabbi," the student told me one Wednesday night, a few years ago. It was a particularly aggravating evening at Confirmation Class, and, as is sometimes the case after a long day, I was finding it difficult to be patient and understanding of the needs of adolescents when all I wanted was for them to participate in the lesson I had prepared. As my frustration grew, I become more and more stern, until one young man finally interrupted me with his advice: "Lighten Up!" At the time, I was not amused. After all, I didn’t really want to be reminded by a student who was exhibiting more than his share of disrespect of what I needed to do. I wanted him and his classmates to do what I thought they needed to do, namely, listen to me and learn what I had to teach them. On the way home, however, it dawned on me. He was right. I ought to lighten up, every once in a while. We all ought to. That, perhaps above all else, is what this Hebrew month of Adar, and the holiday of Purim, come to teach us each year. True, Purim is about the story of the biblical book of Esther, the tragic-comic story of the victory of Jewish ethnic pride over hatred and prejudice. We retell the story each year, cheering for Esther and Mordecai, blotting out the name of Haman, and reminding ourselves that we are lucky not to have to live as they did. But the overlay of festivities, humor, costumes, and downright silliness that accompanies Purim each year teaches us a lesson that is perhaps even more compelling, and certainly more universal: "Lighten Up," Purim tells us. "Don’t let your troubles get you down. Smile a bit, Laugh a bit, Have some fun!" Our Jewish tradition provides plenty of reasons to be sad, more than our share of tragedies and destructions. Life itself offers more than enough challenges, numerous reasons to be dejected and sad. Yet the message of Purim, the message of the month of Adar, is "Don’t Worry, Be Happy!" This is no Pollyanna, head-in-the-sand avoidance of reality. Instead, we acknowledge the challenges of the past, the memories and the sadness, and we laugh in the face of those who would seek to disable us with all this. We insist on finding reasons to laugh when it seems there can be none. We smile a bit when we feel like crying. We refuse to allow ourselves to be lowered to the level of those who hate and destroy. We celebrate life, we rejoice in our freedom to be who we want to be. Many of us saw and loved the Award-winning movie, "Life is Beautiful." Set in the Holocaust, this story exemplifies the benefits of finding laughter in moments of pain. Even in the midst of life’s greatest tragedies, there is reason to smile, celebrate life, and seek to prevent evil from prevailing. I have seen this in the faces of cancer patients, families in mourning, people who are struggling to overcome great challenge. Doctors tell us the therapeutic benefits of laughter and humor. Our tradition taught this centuries ago. This is the month of Adar, the month of Purim. Purim is Not for Children Only! On Thursday evening, March 8, we will welcome Purim with our annual Purim Festivities. This year we have something even more special in store. If we don’t make you laugh, there must be something wrong with you!! And for those who wish a more adult-oriented Purim celebration, come on Friday morning, March 9 to join us in reading the megillah and reminding ourselves, once again, to "Lighten Up!" James M. Bennett, Rabbi |
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