The Halakhic Corner: When Adar Arrives, Joy Increases
The Maharsha explained that when our Sages said 'Israel has no mazal,' they meant that if it was decreed from Heaven that no calamity would befall Israel, indeed no calamity will come, and if good was decreed for Israel, it will certainly come, regardless of astrological influences
The Gemara in Tractate Ta'anit (page 29) states: "Rabbi Yehuda, son of Rav Shmuel ben Shilat, said in the name of Rav: Just as when Av begins, we diminish joy, so too when Adar begins, we increase joy. Rav Papa said: Therefore, any Jew who has a legal dispute with a non-Jew should avoid it in the month of Av, due to the bad mazal of Israel in the month of Av, and should strive to have the case heard in the month of Adar, because then the mazal of Israel is very good."
The commentators asked: How could the Gemara say that in the month of Adar there is good mazal for Israel, when our Sages taught that "Israel has no mazal," meaning that Israel is not subject to the influence of stars and constellations like the gentiles, but is rather absolutely and directly under Hashem's providence? Several explanations were offered.
The Maharsha explained that when our Sages said "Israel has no mazal," they meant that if it was decreed from Heaven that no calamity would befall Israel, indeed no calamity will come, and if good was decreed for Israel, it will certainly come, regardless of astrological influences. However, if, Heaven forbid, there is a negative decree upon a person, that decree is more likely to manifest during times when that person's mazal is not good, and therefore many harsh decrees came upon Israel in the month of Av in general and on the Ninth of Av in particular. Conversely, if a good decree was issued for a person, that decree is more likely to manifest during times when that person's mazal is good, and in the month of Adar, the mazal of Israel is good.
The Ritva wrote that although "Israel has no mazal," nevertheless in these two months, Av and Adar, Israel does have mazal, meaning that the constellations affect Israel, because that is what was decreed upon us by Hashem. He further added that it is possible to say that mazal never controls Israel, and what was said about there being good mazal in the month of Adar, etc., means that there are good decrees on Israel in the month of Adar. That is, the decrees are from Hashem, not through stars and constellations, which have no influence whatsoever on Israel.
7th of Adar
This week falls the 7th of Adar, and in the Gemara in Tractate Kiddushin (38.) it is explained that on the 7th of Adar, Moses our teacher, peace be upon him, passed away. It is the custom of the pious and those of good deeds (who are healthy) to fast on this day, as written by the Shulchan Aruch (180). Similarly, some have the custom to hold a special study session on the night of the 7th of Adar, which is a good custom. If there are ten people in the synagogue who are fasting on this day, they should not take out a Torah scroll in the synagogue, because this is not truly a public fast, and also the Kohanim should not raise their hands during the Mincha prayer of the fast day.
