The Laughter Of Adar

1. The Month of Adar and the Essence of Laughter

The discourse opens by noting a Halachic concept: if one has no other choice, the Megillah can be read at any time during the entire month of Adar. This is because the miracle of Adar is defined by the concept of "V’Nahafoch Hu"—the sudden turning of sorrow into joy, and mourning into celebration. This power of reversal permeates the entire month.

The 12 months of the year correspond to 12 human faculties (sight, hearing, action, etc.). The faculty corresponding to the month of Adar is Laughter (Tzchok). Of all earthly creatures, only humans possess two specific faculties: Speech and Laughter. Laughter here is not merely the physical act of chuckling, but the profound cognitive ability to grasp the concept of absurdity and sudden shifts in reality.

The Mechanics of Laughter:

True laughter is a spontaneous reaction to the unexpected. When the human mind expects a logical, orderly progression of events, and suddenly a sharp, unpredictable turn occurs, the natural reaction is an outburst of laughter. Therefore, the "punchline" of any joke relies on it being completely unexpected.

In the Divine realm, this exists as well. The Psalmist writes, "He who sits in heaven laughs, the Lord mocks them" (Psalms 2:4). God’s laughter occurs when human beings or nations build massive, seemingly unshakable systems of power, expecting an inevitable outcome, only for God to create a sharp, sudden turn of events that collapses their reality. The realization that all their grand plans were ultimately a "joke" is the Divine Laughter.

2. Two Archetypes of Humanity: Esav (Action) and Yishmael (Speech)

Humanity can be divided into two foundational archetypes, represented by the biblical figures Esav and Yishmael. When God offered the Torah to the nations before giving it to Israel, He approached the descendants of Esav (Mount Seir) and Yishmael (Mount Paran), but they rejected it. Israel accepted the Torah by declaring "Na’aseh V’Nishma" (We will do and we will hear).

Esav / The Archetype of Action (Na'aseh): People rooted in this archetype are highly practical, driven by action, and focused entirely on bringing things into tangible reality. They have no patience for abstract concepts. On the negative side, because they view obstacles merely as things to be removed, their ultimate corruption is Murder.

Yishmael / The Archetype of Speech (Nishma): These people are focused on words, meanings, dialogue, and ideas. They are often physically lazy but highly active in the realm of imagination. On the negative side, because they are driven by the unbridled imagination, their ultimate corruption is Immorality/Adultery.

Words naturally connect people, while physical actions often separate people into their own private endeavors. Esau is considered the "waste" (spiritual fallout) of Isaac, whose trait was strict judgment. Ishmael is the "waste" of Abraham, whose trait was boundless kindness (connection). Jacob, the father of the Twelve Tribes, synthesized both perfectly, leaving no spiritual waste.

3. The Ultimate Evil: The Synthesis of Esav and Yishmael (Amalek)

While Esav (Action/Murder) and Yishmael (Speech/Immorality) are dangerous on their own, the text warns of a terrifying scenario: when these two forces combine. This unholy alliance is the spiritual root of Amalek.

Historically, this was seen in the alliance of Balak and Balaam who sought to curse Israel. Balak was a man of Action (representing Esav's power), while Balaam was a man of Speech (representing Yishmael's power). Together, they form the entity of Amalek (the letters of Balak and Bil'am combine to form the spiritual root of Amalek).

This terrifying hybrid exists prominently in the modern era. Today, we witness forces of extreme, brutal violence and murder (Esav) that are immediately backed by sophisticated systems of propaganda, speech, and media messaging (Yishmael). This coordination creates a system of evil that threatens the very existence of Israel.

4. The Antidote: "Na’aseh V’Nishma" (Doing before Hearing)

How does the Jewish people combat this ultimate evil? Through the mechanism they used to accept the Torah: placing Na’aseh (Action/Commitment) before Nishma (Hearing/Understanding).

In modern terms, relying purely on intellect, debate, and understanding (Nishma) will not defeat the evil of Amalek, because Amalek has already hijacked the realm of speech and ideas. The only way to survive is through an absolute, unconditional submission to the Yoke of Heaven—doing God's will purely out of loyalty, even before the intellect grasps it.

This concept is symbolized by Moshe during the war with Amalek. The verse states that when Moshe raised his hands, Israel prevailed. The sages explain that raising his hands above his head symbolized elevating the "hands" (Action / Na'aseh) above the "head" (Intellect / Nishma).

5. Yitzchak (Isaac) and the "Last Laugh"

There are two types of laughter:

The Laughter of the Fool: This is cynical, mocking laughter. It is the laughter of the modern world, which scoffs at faith, revels in taking down the honorable, and is rooted in the arrogance of Esau and Ishmael. It is represented by Ishmael "mocking" (metzachek) in the book of Genesis.

The Holy Laughter of Yitzchak: Yitzchak’s very name means "He will laugh." He represents the ultimate, Divine "last laugh."

Yitzchak’s entire existence is a paradox that mocks the laws of nature. He was born to a 100-year-old man and a 90-year-old barren woman. He was bound on the altar (the Akedah) and, spiritually speaking, is viewed by God as if he were burnt to ashes. Yet, he lives. The sages point out that the name Yitzchak (יצחק) can be split into Ketz (קץ - meaning "End") and Chai (חי - meaning "Life"). He represents life springing forth from the absolute end—life emerging from ashes.

Currently, the world seems upside down. Believers are mocked by the cynical "laughter of the fool." However, in the Messianic era, the ultimate V'Nahafoch Hu (reversal) will occur. As Psalms 126 declares, "Then our mouths will be filled with laughter." The world will witness that all the mighty, secular systems of action and speech were a fleeting illusion, and faith was the only reality. The final day of history will not be an "end," but rather a "birth"—just as the miraculous birth of Yitzchak shattered the natural trajectory of his elderly parents' lives.

Conclusion

The lesson ends with a powerful call to action. To survive the modern onslaught of Amalek's cynical narrative, a Jew cannot try to outsmart the world using intellect alone. One must reject the "laughter of the fool" and cling to the absolute, unshakable commitment of Na'aseh before Nishma. By maintaining this pure faith, the Jewish people will merit to see the ultimate "reversal" of the month of Adar, where sorrow and mourning are miraculously turned into eternal joy and true, holy laughter. [הגרמ"ש]