LETTERS FROM OUR LEADERS

Rabbi Ari Averbach

rabbiaverbach@templeetzchaim.org

There is a Jewish saying: when we begin the month of Adar, our joy increases. While some people believe that it happens automatically, that God provides us with more joy towards the start of spring, I believe we have to work for it.

We recently lost my wife’s grandfather, Arnold M. Patent. Aside from being a wonderful part of our family, he was an author and lecturer. In one of his books, he writes, “As you express joy, you draw it out of those you meet, creating joyful people and joyful events. The greater the joy you express, the more joy you experience.”

From his purview, it is our task to bring this sense of gratitude and delight into the world. If we create it, if we join others with it, it increases exponentially. We have this overwhelming power to be the ones who add simcha, happiness, into the world.

And I know it’s not easy. We want it to just happen, as if by magic, by Divine force. Inertia is devastating, as we all prefer to just keep doing what we have always done.

So we will work with you. We develop programs where you can just show up and increase your joy. There are speakers and physical activities and musical events and moments of learning to spark joy. We have opportunities to check in with those who are home-bound, hoping to bring joy to those who most need it in our community.

I look forward to working with you, adding joy into the world.