"When Adar arrives, we increase our joy." (Talmud – Taanit 29a). The Hebrew / Jewish month of Adar is synonymous with joy because Adar has traditionally been a month of hope and blessing for the Jewish people. Adar is the last of the Hebrew months on the Jewish calendar, and in this way represents completion. The word Adar is cognate to the Hebrew "strength" (אדיר). The sages say of Adar: "Its mazal [fortune] is strong." The Gemara (Ta’anis 29a) tells us that "Just as from when the month of Av enters, we minimize our happiness, so too from when the month of Adar enters, we increase our happiness."

This is a joyous month for various reasons; it wasn’t just the Purim story that marks this month as glorious.

The 3rd of Adar was the anniversary of the completion of the second temple, which was built by the Torah Scribe, Ezra and the Davidic leader at the time, Zerubavel. The second temple took four years to build. The second temple was finished only few years after the end of the Purim Story took place.

The 7th Adar is the date of birth, of arguably the greatest Jewish leader of all time, Moshe. His circumcision took place on the 14th of Adar.

The 14th of Adar is also famous for the salvation of the Jewish people from Haman’s plot to destroy the Jewish nation. The 15th Adar is the day after Purim, know as Shushan Purim. Actually two days prior, 13th Adar is the ‘Fast of Esther,’ commemorating Esther’s fast, when she was going to request something off Achashvairosh, risking her own life.

It is customary on Purim to give presents to fellow friends, comprising of a minimum of two foods, the gift is named ‘Mishloach Manot.’ The gift is meant to ensure that everyone has enough food for the Purim feast held later in the day, and to promote an increase in love and friendship among Jews as a counter force against Haman’s assertion that the Jewish people are characterized by strife and disunity.

The 23rd of Adar is famous as the day the Mishkan (Tabernacle) was inaugurated, it’s no coincident, how the coming parshah’s actually are going to detail what the features of the tabernacle are, as we are entering Parshat Terumah. The inauguration process lasted between 23 – 29th Adar. It was Moshe who had the role as High priest and Aaron and his four sons took the priesthood roles. Aaron’s four sons were, Eliezer, Ithamar, Nadav and Abihu. We will see later on in Parshat Shemini, how Nadav and Avihu die. The Mishkan was especially joyous as Hashem’s divine presence rested in the tabernacle.

On an unhappy note, the date 27th Adar is the anniversary of the death of the last great Jewish King, Zedekiah. He was the last king of the royal house of David to reign in the Holy Land. He ascended the throne in the year 434 BCE, after King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia (to whom the Kingdom of Judah was then subject) exiled King Jeconiah (Zedekiah’s nephew) to Babylonia. In 425 BCE Zedekiah rebelled against the Babylonian rule, and Nebuchadnezzar went to attack Jerusalem (in Tevet 10 of that year); two years later the walls of Jerusalem were penetrated, the city conquered, the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed, and the people of Yehudah exiled to Babylonia. Zedekiah tried escaping through a tunnel leading out of the city, however he was captured; his sons were killed in front of him, and then he was blinded. Zedekiah was stuck in the royal dungeon in Babylonia until Nebuchadnezzar’s death in 398 BCE (25 years later). Evil Meroduch, Nebuchadnezzar’s son and successor, freed him (and his nephew Jeconiah) on the 27th of Adar; however Zedikiah died that same day. He was a great Jewish King.

Zedikiah was obviously not the only Jew to die, sanctifying God’ name, many famous stories throughout Jewish history, include, Hanna and her 7 sons (Chanukah story), mass Jews during the first and second world wars, the Jews in Beitar over 50 years after destruction of 2nd Temple, the 10 Martyrs and many more.

During the Talmudic era, Adar 28th used to be a joyous day and celebrated to commemorate the rescinding of a Roman decree against Brit Mila, Torah study and keeping the Shabbat. These decrees were initially formulated, as the Roman’s knew if the Jews would be unable to practice and observe these, it would lead to assimilation. The decree was annihilated through the efforts of the great Rabbi Yehudah ben Shamua and his fellow rabbis.

It is a winter month of 29 days. In leap years, it is preceded by a 30-day intercalary month named Adar Aleph (Aleph being the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet), Adar Rishon (First Adar) or Adar I and it is then itself called Adar Bet (Bet being the second letter of the Hebrew Alphabet), Adar Sheni (Second Adar) or Adar II. Occasionally instead of Adar I and Adar II, "Adar" and "Ve’Adar" are used (Ve means ‘and’ thus: And Adar). Adar I and II occur during February–March on the Gregorian calendar.

During the month of Adar, we should all strive to feel this happiness. It should truly be a month of joy for all and for all time!