A singularly important day today.
A guest posting by Bob Rosenthal:
Allen’s Yarzheit – 27 Adar II
Wednesday, March 26, 2025 After sun-down – Thursday, March 27, 2025 Until sun-down
The Jewish “leap year”, which occurs seven times in a 19-year cycle, has 13 months instead of the regular year’s 12. This is so that the lunar-based Jewish year should remain aligned with the solar seasons (12 lunar months are up a total of 354 days – slightly more than 11 days short of the 365.25 solar cycle). The added month is called “Adar I” and is inserted before the month of Adar (termed “Adar II” in leap years).
And so it was on the day Allen died – April 5, 1997 – this day is the 27th day in Adar II. 2025 is not a leap-month year. The date is ten days ahead of the Solar calendar. The arrival of Adar is marked with a drunken commandment on Purim to be joyous. Allen felt exalted just before he died. He talked to the stars (See his poem “Starry Rhymes”). At this time of the year happiness is mandated and one’s senses are altered.
The reason we say Kaddish (Holy) is to ease our loved-one’s in death’s passage through the hosannahs. Helping them save their seat for eternity. Small favor to give for someone like Allen who gave so much to us.
Born June 3, 1926 – in a few months, Allen will have his 99th birthday.
May the Centenary begin.