Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Daf Yomi - Taanis 29 - ADAR and Av- The Contrast Between Them

Rabbi Yehudah, the son of Rabbi Shmuel bar Shilas said in the name of Rabbah: "Just like from the first of Av, participation in joyful events must be lessened, so too, as soon as the month of Adar enters, joyous festivities should be increased."

There are several questions regarding this statement. (Please let us know your opinion.)

1. Why is the mitzva of expressing joy during Adar written in suce an obscure manner; as a contrast to the month of Av?

2. Is there ever a time that one should not be in a state of happiness?

3. There are many halachos in regards to the decrease in joy during the month of Av, but no mention of how to increase happiness in the month of Adar. Why not and what are the methods?

4. THe beginning of Adar is the time that Haman's decree took effect. This is also the time that Moshe died? Why should the entire month have the increase in joy?

5. Should there be a lessening of happiness in the days after the ninth of Av?

6. Why don't we institute a month of happiness during Kislev because of Chanukah?

7. It is implicit in the statement of Rabbah that there should be some happiness expressed during the month of Av? How should that be manifested and why?

8. Why do the Rambam and shulchan Aruch omit this halacha of increasing joy during the month of Adar?

We would appreciate your input on any of these matters.

Thank You

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Based loosely on a Shiur from my Rebbi Shlita (no name because I'm not sure how much is his and how much is mine), the Mishnah is telling us that Galus and Churban is a process, not an event. It did not just happen. Rather there were causes, long-term and short-term that led up to it. That's why we reduce Simcha as we go into the time of Galus, rather than just crying on Tisha B'Av itself.

So too, says the Gmara, we need to understand that Geula is also a process and we have to make it happen with our Avoda. Don't just sit and wait for the white donkey. Understand that our actions will bring the Geula. Therefore, the Simcha should begin to build as we approach the holiday that represents the last miracle of the Galus. Note Rashi's reference to Pesach. It is with this strength that we will approach the final redemption.

That being the theme, the Mishna discusses only the Churban because that's anyway the only theme of the Mishna.

This doesn't answer all of the questions, although it addresses some of them and provides what in either case is an important insight.

Chaim B. said...

As to why the SA and Rambam omit the din of marbin b'simcha, it parallels the Rambams omission of being m'maet simcha in Av - see Shu"t Chasam Sofer O.C. 160, which I posted about here http://divreichaim.blogspot.com/2006/07/mshenichnas-av-mmaatim-bsimcha-court.html
You would still have a kashe on the S.A.

Avromi said...

David: In regards to # 1 - it is obscure because the gemora only mentions it as a kisheim, not outright.

point # 2 look at tosfos megillah (5a) acc to the magen avraham's (551:1) understanding that during av, one should not be misameach at all for otherwise a shiur should be stated. machtzis hashekel asks that tosfos is discussing fast because of rain and not av but then he answers it.sha'ar hatziyon says that one should be b'simcha a little during av.