מִצְוָה גְּדוֹלָה לִהְיוֹת בְּשִׂמְחָה תָּמִיד
Mitzvah g’dolah lihyot b'simcha tamid
It is a great Mitzvah to be be joyful all the time!
Rebbe Nachman of Bratzlav 1772-1810
You stand upright this day, all of you, �before the L-rd your G-d (29:9)
�"This day" is a reference to Rosh Hashanah, the day on which we all stand in judgment before G-d (the Torah reading of Nitzavim is always read on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah).
Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov cited at Chabad.org
“All in the world pass before Him, like sheep of a flock.”
Now all the people gathered together as one man in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate… So Ezra the priest brought the Torah before the assembly of men and women and all who could hear with understanding on the first day of the seventh month. 3 Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Torah. 4 So Ezra the scribe stood on a platform of wood which they had made for the purpose... And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. . .
6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered, “Amen, Amen!” while lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground…So they read distinctly from the book, in the Torah of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn nor weep.” For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Torah. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:1-9, NKJV (Modified)
תַּ֗חַת אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹא־עָבַ֙דְתָּ֙ אֶת־ה׳ אֱלֹקיךָ בְּשִׂמְחָ֖ה וּבְט֣וּב לֵבָ֑ב מֵרֹ֖ב כֹּֽל׃ �
All these curses shall befall…Because you would not serve your HaShem God in joy and gladness over the abundance of everything…
Deuteronomy 28:45, 47
So much of this seems strange to us: How can the Torah command an emotion? Surely it is difficult to implement such a commandment. And yet, this emotional commandment appears three times in the parsha, and apparently the commandments are geared toward creating joy; when the commandment to rejoice is ignored, terrible things happen.
R’ Ari Kahn, M’orah Ha’Aish: Ki Tavo: An Ode to Joy, Aish.com
Even though you served G‑d,
you did not serve Him with joy
—that is the source of all afflictions.
Maimonides cited at Chabad.org
Not only did you sin, you did so “with happiness and with gladness of heart”—�for this the punishment is doubly severe.
Maayanah Shel Torah cited at Chabad.org
"Because you did not serve God your Lord with joy and a happy heart when everything was abundant." � �When a person cheers himself with the joy of a mitzvah—such as Torah study or the performance of good deeds—this joy is so great that it reaches down to his feet and lifts them up—i.e., he dances for joy. Similarly, one who serves God with joy can reach all the way down into the lowest levels and elevate the souls that have been trapped there due to their sins (Likutey Moharan II, 81)
REBBE NACHMAN'S TORAH: NUMBERS - DEUTERONOMY - Breslov Insights into the Weekly Torah Reading (p. 362). Breslov Research Institute. Kindle Edition.
“…at the very moment that I perform the mitzvah, I am at one with God, in unison with God. This togetherness transforms the master/slave relationship. This additional meaning of mitzvah gives rise to the realization that the ultimate goal of the commandments is to create a relationship with God that goes beyond mindless, even grudging obedience. Observance of God's commandments without an awareness of this other level of meaning can leave some adherents feeling like slaves, which might lead to feelings of humiliation and depression. Instead, when we perform mitzvot we should feel that God is with us, that we have been given the opportunity to join in a great undertaking, to walk down the path of history in step with our Creator. This understanding must necessarily lead to feelings of elation, gratitude - and joy.
R’ Ari Kahn, M’oray Ha’Aish: An Ode to Joy, Aish.com
Our Sages warn us to keep far away from any sin, even the smallest (Avot 2:1) . They also teach us that no matter how a person acted in the past, he should never give up hope (cf. Rashi on Deuteronomy 26:16) . Be careful of sin, and renew yourself. Begin again! Begin anew! (Likutey Halakhot IV, p. 103a-206)
�REBBE NACHMAN'S TORAH: NUMBERS - DEUTERONOMY - Breslov Insights into the Weekly Torah Reading (p. 350). �Breslov Research Institute. Kindle Edition.
How many Hebrew words are there for Joy?
Rabbi Getzel Davis
How many Hebrew words are there for Joy?
Rabbi Getzel Davis�
"See, today I am placing before you life and good on the one hand, and death and evil on the other." See, today I am placing before you life and good Lefanekha (before you) can be translated more literally as “to your face.” When G-d displays a joyous Countenance, life and bounty fill the world. The reverse is also true, G-d forbid. Similarly, when the tzaddik displays a joyous countenance, it is good for the world, and the reverse is also true (Likutey Moharan I, 172) . Because the face is invested with such power, we should always smile when we greet others. A joyous countenance can lift people's spirits and revitalize them (Rabbi Nachman's Wisdom #43)
REBBE NACHMAN'S TORAH: NUMBERS - DEUTERONOMY - Breslov Insights into the Weekly Torah Reading (Kindle Locations 9703-9710). Breslov Research Institute. Kindle Edition.
“Just like in the case of two people wrestling, each trying to throw down the other, if one of them moves with sloth and lethargy, he will be easily defeated and felled, even if he is stronger than his fellow. So, too, in battling one's evil inclination, one can prevail over it ... only with alacrity that comes from joy and from a heart that is free and cleansed from every trace of worry and sadness...”
Tanya, cited at Chabad.org, Four Reasons to Be Happy, Yanki Tauber
מִ֥י יִתֵּ֣ן מִצִּיּוֹן֮ יְשׁוּעַת יִשְׂרָ֫אֵ֥ל בְּשׁ֣וּב ה׳ שְׁב֣וּת עַמּ֑וֹ יָגֵ֥ל יַ֝עֲקֹ֗ב יִשְׂמַ֥ח יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
O that salvation of Israel will come from Zion!�When HaShem returns the captives of His people,�Jacob will exult, Israel will rejoice.
Psalm 14:7
The letters of yismach ישמח are the same as those �of Mashiachמשיח . For [Jacob] will rejoice �[at Israel’s redemption] at the time of Mashiach.
Baal HaTurim on Numbers 25:13, Mesorah Publishing, ltd., pg. 1675
ישמח
משיח
- Will Rejoice
- Messiah
“Joy and gladness” as in the verse, (Isa. 35:10) “then the ransomed of the Lord will return,” etc., “they will attain joy and gladness.” Joy and gladness refer to the two meshichim. Joy refers to Mashiach ben Yosef . . .�Kol HaTor 2:147, Sefaria.org
שִׂמְחָה וְשָׂשׂוֹן
Simcha v’Sasson
“Every day, every hour, and every moment, man has the strength to renew and revive himself and to become a totally new creation. G-d makes new creations Every day. No one moment is like any other. Strengthen yourself and make a completely new beginning. Even on the very same day, you may have to start again several times. Whatever happened in the past, forget it completely. Keep your thoughts directed to G-d. Begin anew as from now. . . Whatever happens to you, with all your might make G-d your strength. For G-d is filled with love at every moment. The fountain of his kindness is never exhausted.”
Reb Noson of Breslov, Restore My Soul, Breslov Research Institute, pg 40-41
Then all the tax collectors and the sinners drew near to him to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So He spoke this parable to them, saying: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine tzaddikim who need no repentance.
Luke 15:4-7, NKJV (Modified)
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Messiah Yeshua. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:4-9, NKJV (Modified)
Just as the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you; remain in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will remain in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
John 15:9-11