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Growing up in urban Brooklyn, we all looked forward to overnight summer camp. We would all go to the Catskill mountains, and enjoy two months of green grass, outdoor activities, nature hikes and trips. One of the highlights was the annual trip to Six-Flags Great Adventure. This adrenaline-rushing amusement park, located in Jackson, New Jersey, is filled with roller-coasters, and has many dare-devil performances.

To those wondering about the origin of the name “Six Flags”, like I was, here is an interesting historical piece of information: Their first theme park opened in Texas in 1961 and received its name because of the flags of the six different nations that have governed Texas: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the United States (Union) and the Confederate States of America. Visitors were welcomed to the amusement-park with a sign that displayed the following words: “More Flags, More Fun!”

I was reminded of this sign, as we begin the “extra” month of Adar that is added during a Jewish leap year. Some background: While the secular calendar is based on the solar year, of 365 days, the Jewish calendar is based on the Lunar year which is 354 days. In order to keep the two calendars in sync, as we need Pesach to be in the spring, an extra month is added to the Jewish calendar (about) every three years. Thus, during the Jewish leap year, your calendar will have the months of “Adar 1” and “Adar 2”.

What does this have to do with the sign in Great Adventures? Our sages tell us that when we enter the month of Adar — which is the month that the festive holiday of Purim is celebrated — we are supposed to increase in joy. In a regular year, we celebrate thirty days of increased joy. This year, being a Jewish leap year, we have two months of Adar and that gives us sixty days of increased joy – “More days (of Adar) – More Fun!”

There is an additional significance about having sixty days of joy. To appreciate this, please allow me to share with you an interesting law that is connected to the kosher diet. One of the basic principles of the kosher diet is the strict separation between milk (dairy) and meat. It is a very common practice that a Jewish home will have separate dishes, and even sinks, for dairy and meat products. Not only do we not eat a product that has a mixture of dairy and meat, we also wait a significant amount of time between a meat-meal and consuming dairy.

Yet, there is an exception: If someone is cooking a big pot of boiling chicken soup and a drop of milk fell into the soup, it would still be permitted to eat the soup. Why? Because our sages teach us that if the soup is 60x the amount of the milk, it will nullify the effect of the milk. This nullification process is known as “Bittul B’Shishim —nullification through sixty”.

This halachic nuance is actually a very inspiring message for each and every one of us. Most of us have certain baggage in our life that we wish would be nullified. This is especially true after all the challenges that we have been going through with the Covid-pandemic. For some the baggage is emotional, while to others it may be mental, physical or spiritual. The common denominator is that it is unwanted baggage that we wish we could nullify and be freed of. We are very fortunate that this year we have the gift of the sixty days of Adar — the sixty days of joy. Joy has the power to break all boundaries. When we immerse ourselves in the joyous sixty days of Adar, we will receive the spiritual power to nullify our negative baggage.

What should one do if they are not feeling joyous? The following advice was given by one of the Chassidic masters: “Don’t speak of any depressing matters, heaven forbid. On the contrary, always act joyfully, as though you are filled with joy in your heart — even though it’s not there in your heart at the time. Eventually it will be. There’s reasoning behind this: When you make it a consistent habit to behave in a certain way, you eventually integrate that into your personality.” In short: Fake it, till you make it!

I would like to encourage everyone to add in acts of joy in their home. Gather your children together for a few minutes of joyous dancing and witness the dramatic positive change of the atmosphere of the home.

Shabbat Shalom!

You can email Rabbi Gerson Avtzon at  [email protected].

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