We're going to read in the Megillah this week: LaYehudim hayetah orah vesimchah (The Jews had light and joy). The Jews had orah; they had light. Rashi writes that it means Torah. Vesimchah, Rashi writes, means Yom Tov (holiday).
Ladies and gentlemen, I want to ask you a question. What caused the Yom Tov? What did the Jews gain? What did they amass? What accrued? What did B'nai Yisrael get that they didn't have before? If you take a look at the whole story of the Megillah, they gained nothing. They did not gain anything. They didn't lose. Yes, there was a threat of annihilation facing all of Judaism—extermination, genocide. And God saved them from that threat. But that means the status quo remained the same. Nothing new happened. And yet, it perpetuated happiness. And I think this teaches a very important lesson.
You're still alive; be happy. You're still able to walk. Nothing new has to happen. But you're not not walking. You're still walking. Vesimchah. You're able to smell, able to see, able to hear. LaYehudim hayetah orah vesimchah. Why? I didn't gain anything. Well, neither did they. But they faced annihilation, the threat of extermination. And God kept them alive. Well, God's keeping me alive today, Baruch Hashem. Why should I not be happy? Why do I need a threat to be thwarted in order for me to be happy? I don't. I can be happy every day just because God kept me alive. I can smell, see, hear, walk, jump. So, ladies and gentlemen, every day can be a day of orah vesimchah (light and joy). Just recognize what you still have and be thankful that you still have it. I love that you still have it.
Rabbi Eliezer Zeytouneh, Hashem loves you. Have a wonderful day. Chag Sameach. Chag Sameach. Chag Sameach.