Succot is a great holiday, with many mitzvot.
Today we will discuss one of them.
The Gaon of Vilna was once asked:
What is the most difficult mitzvah to fulfill?
Some might say Kivud Av v’Em- Honoring one’s parents. The Gemara says it’s
חמורה שבחמורות. It’s the most difficult of mitzvot. We have tremendous responsibilities to show gratitude to our parents. It’s almost impossible to fulfill this mitzvah.
Another guess might be Talmud Torah- learning torah. It’s a constant mitzvah to learn.
Still others might say VeAhavta LeRe’echa Kamocha-Loving your friend like you love yourself. That’s very hard too.
But the Gaon M’Vilna answered that he thought the most difficult mitzvah was
V’Samachta Be’Hagecha -To be happy on the holiday.
Why is this hard? Because it’s a constant 24-hour, 8-day mitzvah. You have to happy always- not just when you have a drink, or go on a trip. You have to be happy every second of the holiday. Other mitzvot are more finite. For example, Tefillin- you put it on, then take it off, and it’s over.
This is constant, and therefore it’s more difficult. And it’s a Mitzvat Aseh- it’s a positive commandment to have simcha on the holiday.
The Pele Yoetz says, regarding this, that it’s well known that for all mitzvot,
לפום צערא אגרא - According to the pain is the reward. The more difficult, the greater the reward.
When a mitzvah is hard and you push yourself, you get a bigger reward. If you are tired but you got to class anyway, you get a bigger reward. If have to drive someone somewhere and you’re not in the mood, you get a bigger reward.
The Pele Yoetz tells us a big Hiddush about this: This same principle is true for the mitzvah of being happy. A person with challenges and reasons to feel upset, but nonetheless ignores hisproblems and focuses on being happy, his reward is much greater than the person living the life of Riley.
But how can one actually overcome all of his challenges and be happy?
He gives a Mashal to tell us: Imagine a person who the mega-million-dollar lottery. On his way out of the bank, where he went to pick up his prize money, he finds that he got a $150 ticket for parking by a pump. Will he care?? No! He wouldn’t care at all. The happiness from winning will override the minor blip of the ticket.
Even more so, says the Pele Yoetz, with a person who appreciates what is happening in the Succah.
He uses the words: בונה
שמים עליותיו We are building castles in heaven! We are doing tremendous things. G-d’s wings are upon us. This should cause a person to have great simcha.
The Pele Yoetz then gives us particular times when a person should have simcha:
-In Alenu, we have to thank Hashem
שלא עשנו כגוי הארצות,
that we aren’t like the nations of the world. We are Jewish, we are part of a wonderful community. We understand who G-d is.
-Every morning we say in ובא לציון
ברוך אלוקינו שבראנו לכבודו והבדילנו מן התועים
“Blessed is G-d that created us for His honor and separated us from the people that have strayed.” Not everyone has their head on straight. When you say this, says the Pele Yoetz, you should think of a person about to be burnt at the stake, and then suddenly taken away to become the king. Imagine that change! There is no greater burning than a person whose soul is burning - the person that doesn’t understand what religion is about. And there is no greater kingdom that being a servant of G-d.
-When we consider that G-d chose us from all the nations of the world. אשר בהר בנו מכל העמים.
-As we sit in the Succah we should think, “I’m in the Succah, the weather is beautiful (we hope), I’m in G-d’s palms. G-d loves me. He gave me Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Succot and all these beautiful holidays. How can I not appreciate all He gave me?”
And he adds: Even sweeter, we get rewarded for being happy! “Be happy and I’ll pay you for being happy,” says Hashem. How can we not be happy?
But sometimes, even though you’ve done everything right- you bought the wine, you have the meat, you bought your wife jewelry and clothes, you got treats for your children, etc.. you’re still not happy. Why?
Says Rav Chaim Pilaggi, as the pasuk says and as we’ve discussed before, Hashem says, “If you make mine happy, I’ll make yours happy.” If you take care of the needy, Hashem will make you happy.
So, if we’ve done all we are suppose to, and we still don’t feel simcha, the way out is to give charity. Of course, the Sedaka can be given to any organization, but I’m going to remind you of LevChana, an organization that send clothing cards to needy families, to clothe their children for the holidays.
If you’d like to get involved, please send a check to:
Lev Chana
1059 East 10th Street
Brooklyn NY 11230
Please email rabbisutton@gmail.com
if you have any questions.