E Mussar - Sabedoria para o Crescimento Pessoal: SF - # The Song of the Soul: Joy, Action, and the Month of Adar

In honor of Mr. and Mrs. Marty Gemal

With heartfelt gratitude, we wish you and your family bracha, hatzlacha, and abundant nachas!

Rabbi Yisrael Salanter once pondered a beautiful mystery: Why did King David follow a night of intense Torah study by playing his harp? The answer lies in the nature of spiritual energy. The Torah King David studied filled his heart with such overwhelming sweetness and power that his soul could no longer contain it. He didn’t just play music; he used the harp as a "release valve" to express a joy too vast for words.

This spiritual joy is not a vague feeling but a tangible result of action. The Rokeach teaches that performing a mitzvah (commandment) carries a distinct, radiant happiness. Rabbi Nachum Zev Zissel, the son of the Saba M’Kelm, embodied this by visiting the sick once a week. He discovered that of all the good deeds he performed, none ignited a fire of joy in his heart quite like the act of comforting those in pain.

As we enter Rosh Chodesh Adar, we are commanded to intentionally "increase our joy." The name of the month itself, אדר (Adar), serves as an acronym for the phrase: אני השם רופאך (Ani Hashem Rofecha—"I am Hashem, your Healer"). This teaches us that the joy we cultivate during this month is not just a celebration, but a vessel for healing and a magnet for the same miracles Hashem performed for Klal Yisrael during the days of Purim.

Practical Applications (The "Joy Exercises")

1. The "Harp" Habit (Expression)

The Concept: Like King David, don't let a moment of inspiration or a "win" just sit inside you. If you learn something new or feel a moment of gratitude, give it a physical voice.

The Exercise: After you finish a task, a prayer, or a period of study, take 30 seconds to hum a song, share the idea with a friend, or simply say "Thank You" out loud.
The Goal: To turn internal inspiration into external energy that brightens your environment.

2. The "Signature Service" (Discovery)

The Concept: Follow the example of Rabbi Nachum Zev Zissel by finding the specific act of kindness that resonates most with your soul. Not every good deed feels the same to every person.

The Exercise: This week, try three small, different acts: a quick text to check on someone, a small anonymous donation, and a physical favor for a neighbor.
The Goal: Observe which one leaves you feeling most "alive" and commit to making that your weekly "Signature Mitzvah."

3. The Adar "Prescription" (Healing)

The Concept: Use the acronym אדר (Ani Hashem Rofecha) to shift your perspective on challenges. If the month is defined by healing, then joy is the medicine.

The Exercise: Whenever you feel stressed or unwell this month, stop and list three things that are currently "going right."
The Goal: To replace the "cold" energy of worry with the "warm" energy of Adar, creating the mental space for personal miracles to occur.

(Based on the teachings of Rav Moshe Sternbuch)