Chodesh Tov! Today, too, is Rosh Chodesh Adar. *“When Adar enters, we increase our joy.”* How do we do that?
Our Sages offer a very practical answer in the Gemara. They take the famous verse at the end of Megillat Esther, *“For the Jews there was light and joy and gladness and honor,”* and turn it into concrete guidance for daily life. They explain:
“Light” refers to Torah.
“Joy” refers to festivals.
“Gladness” refers to circumcision.
“Honor” refers to tefillin.
In other words, the true light in the world is found in Torah study; joy is expressed in the way we observe our festivals, with enthusiasm and anticipation; the gladness of a Jew is the covenant of brit milah, and honor is the laying of tefillin.
Happiness, then, is not a fleeting pleasure that fades as quickly as it appears. Real joy connects us to something eternal. It is grounded in simple, practical actions: mitzvot and good deeds that anchor us in purpose.
As Adar begins, you are invited to cultivate this mindset and consciously add authentic joy to your life.
Chodesh Tov.
