Sharing Love and Kindness

Sharing Love and Kindness February 2024 blog post graphic

You probably know (or will when it’s February 29 th!) that this year is a leap year, when the Gregorian calendar adds an extra day in February. Did you know it’s also a leap year on the Hebrew calendar? This means there’s a whole extra month added in the early spring to keep the lunar calendar on track with the seasons (this is so we aren’t celebrating Passover, also known as Chag HaAviv or the “spring holiday”, in winter). There are two months of Adar in these years, Adar I and Adar II. The first one starts on Thursday, February 8th at sundown. The second Adar starts on Sunday, March 10th at sundown; Purim falls on the 13th of Adar II (or Saturday, March 23 rd at sundown this year). This schedule was determined in the 3rd century, and you can learn more fun facts about leap years here (we promise it won’t take an extra month to read them all!).

The sages tell us that “when Adar enters, we increase in joy,” which means that in this leap year, we get 59 days of joy. Not bad for the middle of winter! You can increase joy throughout the year in several ways:

  1. Help us celebrate PJ Library’s 18 th birthday by telling your friends and family to sign up to receive their own subscription for free Jewish books. We have amazing gifts to share when you do!
  2. Practice chesed (acts of loving-kindness) with your family, maybe with lunch notes, acts of service, helping out a neighbor, or other ideas that inspire you.
  3. In addition to thinking about your Purim costume, consider how your family would like to fulfill the mitzvah of matanot l’evyonim (gifts to those in need).
  4. Havdalah (“separation”) is the ritual that ends Shabbat on Saturday night — it’s a multisensory, joyous opportunity to look forward to the new week. From noticing the candle’s reflection on your fingernails to inhaling the aroma of the spice box, from listening for the sizzle of the doused candle to singing the prayers, the experience lends itself to being fully present in the moment and finding joy in each aspect. Is there a way to add this ritual to your family routine?

I hope that this extra month is a joyous one for you and your family.

B’chesed (in kindness),

Sarah

PS: Please take the time now to complete your PJ Library Family Survey if you haven’t already (look for a link in your inbox from PJ Library). The survey closes on Sunday, February 4th.

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