What is the best way to rejoice, be glad, be merry, be pleased, be joyful?
Some people don't realize this profound contradiction between our "Selfie-Culture" and the true meaning of Happiness.
As more as you dive inside yourself, you are getting more far away from being glad.
It's written in our weekly Parsha (Re'e) a few times:
"And there you shall eat before the Lord, your God, and you shall rejoice in all your endeavors you and your households, as the Lord, your God, has blessed you." [Deuteronomy 12:12]
And again, a few sentences later:
"But you shall eat them before the Lord, your God, in the place, the Lord, your God, will choose you, your son, your daughter, your manservant, your maidservant, and the Levite who is in your cities, and you shall rejoice before the Lord, your God, in all your endeavors." [Verse 18]
You see, the way to be happy is by celebrating with others, Not by yourself!
Moses emphasizes this point again in Chapter 14:
"And you shall turn that money into whatever your soul desires; cattle, sheep, new wine or old wine, or whatever your soul desires, and you shall eat there before the Lord, your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your household: And [as for] the Levite who is in your cities you shall not forsake him, for he has neither portion nor inheritance with you." [Verses 26,27]
And it becomes a formal action required from our people on the Halachic principle:
"... when someone eats and drinks, he must feed the orphan and widow with the rest of the poor people. But he who locks doors and eats and drinks and he and his sons and wife and does not feed and drink for the poor and bitter is not the joy of mitzvah but the joy of Chris" (Rambam).
The principal is apparent when a person puts his heart to the good things he has and does not focus on himself; he can see the needs of others and try to help them.
Help and assistance to others can lead a person to tremendous & genuine joy.
Enjoy your life, and don't forget
To bring more joy to yourself.
It's in your hands, your actions!
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With all my blessings and greetings
"Just be strong and very courageous..." [Joshua 1.7]
Shalom from the Land of Israel,
Rabbi Chaim Goldberg
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