The Torah in Parashat Ki-Tavo makes it very clear that according to the Torah, happiness is a really big deal.
This parashah is one of the two parashiyot in the Torah which contain a long series of “curses” – warnings of tragedies that will befall the Jewish People, Heaven forbid, if we forsake the Torah. These sections are customarily read in a low, quiet tone, because they are so frightening.
Towards the end of the section of curses here in Parashat Ki-Tavo, the Torah gives the reason why the people will be punished so severely: תחת אשר לא עבדת את ה' אלוקיך בשמחה בטוב לבב – “because you did not serve Hashem your G-d with joyfully, with a good heart.”
Really?
This is why we will be deserving of punishment – because we weren’t happy?!?!
Where does the Torah command us to be happy? Is this even a mitzvah? Of course, we want to be happy. But this is a commandment? And such an important commandment, that violating it brings such devastating punishment?!?!
Here’s a possible explanation for why happiness is such a big deal.
The Rabbis in the Midrash make a statement that certain kinds of people are, in a sense, considered “dead.” One of these groups is the poor. People who are poor, the Midrash teaches, are like they are “dead.”
This is not meant as an insult. This is not to say that people who struggle financially have no purpose in the world. Not at all.
Rather, the Midrash is talking about the all-too-common effects of financial hardship.
So often, when people are going through a hard time, they feel so helpless, so upset, so anxious, so uptight, that they can’t function properly. They lose their vibrancy, their energy, their ambition. Part of them “dies.”
Conversely, when we feel happy and invigorated, we are “alive.” We are bursting with energy, and we are in a position to work and to achieve, to do amazing things.
We’ve all had times when we feel happy and excited, and it seems as though we can do anything we want. And we’ve also had times when we feel down and upset, and it seems as though we just can’t do anything.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Even when we face a difficult or painful situation, we can still be happy. It all depends on our mindset and perspective.
I recall once speaking to a Rabbi in Deal one year in the beginning of the summer. I told him, “It must be very hard for you folks here in the summer, when all of a sudden everything is crowded, when throngs of people are here.”
“What do you mean?!” he said. “I love it! It’s so exciting! All these people, so much excitement, so much going on. It’s great!”
Later, at the end of the summer, I was speaking to him again, and I asked, “So it must be hard now, that all those who had come for the summer are starting to leave.”
“No!” he said. “I love the peace and quiet here when they all leave.”
He was telling the truth both times. We can be happy about two opposite situations. It’s all in our mindset. It’s all about looking for the positive aspects of every circumstance.
Returning to the pasuk in our parasha – indeed, happiness matters. When we feel happy, we feel invigorated. We can accomplish. We can achieve. There is no mitzvah to be happy, but we need to be happy so we can fulfill mitzvot. Happiness is necessary for us to be able to “live,” to do what we need to do as people and as Jews.
We need to make it our priority to create “good vibes” all around us so that we and the people in our lives will be happy. We do this by constantly being grateful for the blessings in our lives, and by pointing out these blessings – not only to ourselves, but to others. At home, we need to be thanking and complimenting each other regularly, and to be thanking and expressing gratitude to Hashem regularly. We should be looking for all that is good in our lives, and talking about it. This is how we can create good vibes, and generate a happy atmosphere all around us.
And when we do this, then we can truly “live” and lead successful and accomplished lives in every way.