When seasons change I often give some thought to the nature of the cyclical Jewish year’s makeup. Something on this subject struck me when I was taking a walk the other day in pitch-perfect eighty-degree weather. All of our happy holidays occur during times of year when the climate is not much better than borderline-miserable, and all the depressing or solemn ones fall out when nature is really buzzing. I guess that there might be a yin/yang thing that goes along with that. Yiddishkeit holds onto us tightly during the seasons that we might be predisposed to being overly-ebullient, and perhaps do things that are not in our ‘best interests’, while instilling a sense of intrinsic joy within us during the calender’s dark and brisk period, when we are more susceptible to despondency.
#1 by Mikeinmidwood - April 29th, 2009 at 20:09
Yes, as we are supposed to learn pirkei avos during the summer, which is a more provoking time to fall to the evils in this world.
#2 by Simcha - November 8th, 2009 at 07:56
“On the seasonal nature of the jewish calendar” – I wanted to comment, that I think this is a nice idea, but I don’t understand what you mean. To me it seems just the opposite. All of the Yom Tovim fall out close to the equinox or a month after, except shavuos. This is when the weather is incredibly nice. Pesach temperatures are generally in the 60’s from the southern Midwest to the middle Atlantic region. 60’s after the long winter feels very pleasent. Shvuos generally consists of beautiful weather just about everywhere except the far north and death valley california or places like it. Tishabav, a holiday commemorating destruction, many times occurs during an oppressive heatwave. Rosh Hashana is generally around 80 degrees from the southern Midwest to the Middly atalantic region, and not much different anyplace else. Succos as well, generally occurs at the end of the summer heat, before the cold of winter really takes a grip on us. The winter has no Yom Tovim De’oreisa. It is a time of Emunascha Baleilos. It seems hopeless, bleak and dreary. The physical always is an exact reflection of the spiritual, and therefore the spiritual situation is very much the same. The only exception to this is Chanuka which one of my Rebeim described as the light at the end of a dark tunnel. Chanuka like snowfall, gives us just enough of an Hischadshus, just enough light to continue during the long winter nights. The simcha of Adar which is achieved many times through alcohol is to inspire us to take our long journey through the yom tovim of the summer, (he lahagid baboker part of the year) in order to elevate us to ultimitely feel the simcha of succos which is represented through the “simcha beis hashoeiva” a water drawing ceremony. this simcha is a real simcha. It is reperesented with water, the exact opposite of wine. It is the Simcha of growth, forgiveness for one sins, and feeling close to Hashem. Purim, therefore falls out during the winter,
not because wither is the time for purim to fall out. But purim must come before we take our journey in time which starts with Pesach. And before Pesach is winnter. Futhermore, the spiritual situation of Purim is one of “Vanahafach Hu”, and that is what the weather of March is all about. In March the weather goes from one extreme to another, constantly being “Venahafach hu” .