Community Magazine February 2019

16 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE Words of Rabbi Eli J. Mansour Most readers are probably familiar with horoscopes. I am certainly not advising you to read them in the daily newspaper, but the fact is, according to our tradition, each month of the year has an astrological sign from the zodiac. The configuration of the constellations reflects the nature of that month. For example, the month of Tishreh is Libra - the scales, because that is the month of Rosh Hashana - the Day of Judgment. The month of Ab is Leo, the lion, representing the ferocious enemy that consumed our holy Temple on Tisha B’Ab. This month is Adar Aleph - the first month of Adar. (This year is a leap year in which there are two months of Adar. ) Adar is a very special month. The Gemara says: “ mi’shenichnas Adar marbin b’simcha - When Adar arrives, we increase our joy.” The astrological sign of Adar is Pisces - fish, in Hebrew, “ Dagim. ” The Adar-Fish Connection What is the inherent connection between Adar and fish? Moreover, the word “ Dagim ” is plural, i.e. more than one fish. In fact, interestingly enough, the pictorial symbol of Pisces is two fish aligned head to tail, going opposite each other. All the other signs of the zodiac are singular: one scale, one lion, etc. This also begs an explanation. The simple explanation for the multiple fish is that while every other month in the Jewish calendar is a single month, Adar is the only month that is a double month - in a leap year, like this year. Since there are two months of Adar , hence two fish. Nevertheless, I want to suggest a deeper approach that offers us an important lesson for life. The Lesson of Bitahon A rabbi once called his students to gather in his study. When they arrived, they saw a big fish lying on the rabbi’s table. The rabbi greeted them and said, “Today, I want to reveal to you one of life’s great secrets.” He took a knife and slit open the belly of the fish, urging them to look inside. The students were surprised to discover a small fish inside the belly of the big fish. “Look closely,” the rabbi said, “What here seems strange to you?” “Indeed, dear Rabbi,” they responded, “the head of the small fish is pointing “…we eat fish to remember: Where we put our faith in Gd - we always win. When we rely on our own abilities, we lose.” לעילוי נשמתם של משה בן עליזה, יצחק הלל בן עליזה, והנרייט לאה בת עליזה, דוד בן גילה, רבקה בת גילה, יהושע בן גילה, משה בן גילה, שרה בת גילה, יעקב בן גילה, ואליאנה בת גילה. ולרפואה שלמה ליוסף בן אהובה מסעודה, שילת אהובה בת עליזה, ודניאל בן עליזה. Pondering Pisces – The Astrological Sign of Adar