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Happiness in an Unhappy World


Question:

How can one feel happiness in a world so filled with suffering to people, animals and nature? Thank you for your time and (digital) help.



AskTheRabbi.org answered:

Perhaps the key to happiness in our present circumstances can be learned from one of the most famous sayings of Rabbi Nachman from Breslev and the reaction of Rabbi Shach. Rabbi Nachman used to say "Mitzvah gedolah lehiyot b'simcha tamid" (“It is a great mitzvah to be happy always”). Rabbi Shach cleverly rephrased this saying and used to say, "Simcha gedolah lehiyot b'mitzvah tamid" (“The greatest happiness is to always be involved in a mitzvah!).

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch points out that the Hebrew words “simcha” (happiness) and “tsmicha” (growth) are related. Thus, happiness comes as a result of a person growing towards his spiritual potential. The Baal Shem Tov points out that the letters of the Hebrew word “b'simcha” (happy) can be rearranged to spell “machshava” (thought), emphasizing that happiness depends not on your situation, but upon your view of it.

Rabbi Schwab has a very deep and novel explanation for the verse, “Ivdu et Hashem b'simcha”. Most people understand it to mean that we must follow God’s ways with joy (which is undeniably true). However, Rabbi Schwab explained that we must be happy “b'simcha” even when it is an “Avoda” (i.e. hard work) to do so.

What an incredible lesson! And how does one reach this level? By recognizing that connecting with God is the most exhilarating dimension of our lives. In the same way that a tired businessman will haul himself out of bed to go to make an enormous business deal and he will not begrudge the inconvenience and he will still be enormously happy despite his tiredness, so too we need to approach our relationship to God in the same way. Yes, it can be quite difficult at times, but the potential profits are truly immeasurable!


 
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