It is one of the happiest holidays on the Jewish calendar. It involves masquerade, storytelling, eating sweets, giving to charity, and (for adults) drunkenness.

Which is what makes it all the more painful that the Jews of Brussels are not having their customary Purim celebrations this year.

The kids have been dressing up all week at school but today was “Wacky Wednesday” and they wanted no part of it. Tomorrow at school, they will be a Mets player and a firefighter, respectively. They will prepare gifts for the poor, eat sweets, and make merry. I’m sad for their Belgian counterparts who can’t do that right now.

It’s a grim time overlaid with a happy holiday… Or else it’s a happy holiday overlaid with more sadness and more feelings of futility.

It is also, however, spring. There was no denying that this morning in the park.

I’ll be in the park a lot more in the coming weeks. I’ve decided to sign up for a fundraising bike ride to benefit cancer immunotherapy research. The ride takes place June 25. Between now and June 25, I need to get much better at climbing hills on my bike. I’ll need to ride early and often. (Let me know if you ever want to join me – I could use the company!)

And if you don’t want to or can’t join me, there is still something you can do: Sponsor me. Here is the link. You know what to do. I am so grateful for whatever you can give – and I am living proof that it is for a good cause.