FEBRUARY 8 • 2024 | 41
J
N

Finding Joy amid 
Troubling Times
A

s we enter Adar, we 
face a stark contrast 
between our reality 
and our tradition. With bated 
breath, we follow the news com-
ing out of Eretz Yisrael with each 
passing moment, praying 
for a safe and swift resolu-
tion to the ongoing con-
flict. Along with that trep-
idation, however, we are 
called to “increase our joy” 
(Taanit 29a) as we enter 
the month of Adar. The 
dissonance between these 
two feelings can be diffi-
cult to juggle, but we have 
precedent to call upon.
The rabbis dispute 
why it is that we do not 
recite “Hallel” on Purim. 
For most other holidays, 
Hallel encapsulates the joy 
associated with that holiday; it 
gives expression to the emotion 
we should be feeling. Purim is 
a time of immense celebration. 
With costumes, charity, dancing, 
antics and festive meals with 
each other, it surely behooves us 
to sing the typical Hallel. And 
yet, for some reason it is notice-
ably absent.
Rav Nachman believes that 
we do, in fact, say hallel on 
Purim, albeit in a different 
form. Kriyatah zu halleilah, “the 
reading [of Megilat Esther] is 
the hallel.
” As opposed to other 
holidays, whose megillot are 
not themselves an expression of 
joy, Megilat Esther is already an 
expression of our joyous feel-
ings. Rava disagrees with Rav 
Nachman and explains that while 
Purim is certainly a momentary 
celebration, it is not a complete 
celebration. Despite the salvation 
from Haman, the Jewish people 
remained in exile. It is, therefore, 

not appropriate to sing Hallel. 
One could ask how each 
opinion would respond to the 
other’s claim. Rava presumably 
does not believe that Hallel is 
fulfilled through Megilat Esther, 
as it is not so for any other 
holiday, which is why 
he disagrees with Rav 
Nachman. But why does 
Rav Nachman not sub-
scribe to Rava’s reasoning? 
Does he not see the con-
tinued exile of the Jewish 
people as reason enough 
to prevent the recitation 
of Hallel? In other words, 
how can we say Hallel for 
such a compromised real-
ity, living under someone 
else’s rule?
I believe the answer 
lies within the dynamic 
we find ourselves in now. In 
moments of difficulty and con-
flict, we have to find moments 
of joy and celebration. Must they 
be more muted? Perhaps. But 
for our own sanity and, more 
importantly, for the perseverance 
and vibrancy of our people and 
traditions, we must not succumb 
to the resignation of war. We 
must find our own redemptions 
within the exile, which character-
ize the Purim story. 
It does not, chas veshalom, 
mean we become callous or 
neglectful of the struggle and 
plight of what is a very sensi-
tive situation abroad and even 
at home; but it means finding 
strength to continue enjoying 
our Judaism. Because if we care 
about our Judaism, then we 
will continue to fight for our 
Judaism. 

Rabbi Shaya Katz is rabbi of Young 

Israel of Oak Park.

Rabbi 
Shaya Katz

Parshat 

Mishpatim: 

Exodus 

21:1-24:18; 

Numbers 

28 28:9-15; 

Isaiah 

66:1-24.

SPIRIT
TORAH PORTION

JEWISH NEWS

THE DETROIT

Book your free b’nai mitzvah 
announcement online by 
scanning the QR code.

Mazel Tov

Celebrate your 
child’s journey 
into adulthood 
with 
The Detroit 
Jewish News.

