...and the Pursuit of Happiness

The pursuit of happiness is synonymous with the search for our inner soul. As long as we forget that search, genuine happiness remains an elusive goal.

Elusive!

Joy and happiness are among the most desired feelings that a person can have. It is the pursuit of happiness that constitutes the American Dream. But, as much as everybody strives to realize joy and happiness, it seems more elusive than any of our other goals.

There are countless numbers of people who set their minds to succeeding in many areas of life. Whether it is wealth, fame or knowledge, a person who is determined to succeed, will most likely do so. The lone exception to this rule seems to be the pursuit of happiness. No matter how hard people endeavor to be happy, no matter how many material acquisitions, success in all aspects of life, the goal becomes more and more elusive.

It is no wonder that the entertainment industry has taken over our society. Our craving for happiness is artificially and temporarily satisfied with entertainment and fun. But, no sooner do we satisfy our desire for happiness, that we immediately feel the void in our lives and the need to once more artificially fill it with entertainment.

Punishment for Lack of Joy?

This week’s Torah portion addresses the issue of happiness. In the middle of a series of rather harsh admonitions and dire threats of punishment, the Torah continues that it is due to the fact that “you did not serve G-d with joy and a glad heart.” According to the Ari, the famed Kabbalist, it is the lack of joy that incurs G-d’s greatest wrath.

It is incredible that G-d would fault us for not realizing the most elusive ideal known to modern man!

Bringing Life into Life

In order to resolve this difficulty, let us first reflect on what Judaism says about joy. In addition to the many references in the Bible and Talmud about the greatness of joy, it was the Ba’al Shem Tov, the founder of the Chassidic movement and Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, author of the Tanya and founder of the Chabad Chassidic movement, who extolled the virtue of joy. The fact that the Chassidic movement underscored the virtue of joy and enshrined it as one of its foundations indicates the close relationship that exists between the two.

The Chassidic movement instilled life into Judaism, by revealing its inner dimension. It is no coincidence that the Ba’al Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe were both born on the 18th day of Elul, 18 in Hebrew is Chai, which means life.

By delving into the mysteries of the Torah and its commandments, by revealing the nature of the soul and its faculties, and by exploring the spiritual elements of existence, we reveal deeper dimensions of our soul and infuse everything we do with more of the soul’s vitality.

The Soul’s Natural State of Happiness

By nature, the soul is happy, because it feels connected to G- d. In fact, the true definition of joy and happiness is for one’s soul – one’s inner and essential identity – to feel unfettered and totally free.

To the extent that a person lives in accordance with the dictates of the soul rather than with the demands of the body, the soul experiences this freedom.

Thus, Chassidic philosophy – with its emphasis on expressing the soul’s true feelings and removing the barriers that obstruct our emotions – enables us to experience the true joy that comes from within.

Sense of Fulfillment and Legitimization

Furthermore, Chassidic philosophy emphasizes the need for us to be aware of the purpose for which we were created. When a person knows why they are here and what is their purpose and that they are on the right path to realize their G-d given role in creation, there can be no greater joy. The greatest sense of happiness comes from the realization that I have a purpose, that I count and that I am legitimate.

The joy that one can therefore derive from the fulfillment of every Mitzvah is indescribable to the soul. The Torah thus admonishes us because we served G-d without joy. How can one do a mitzvah and not be ecstatic? How can one serve G- d and not feel the thrill of being a Jew who is capable of serving the infinite G-d?

Searching for our Soul

It behooves us – especially in the introspective and soulsearching month of Elul – to find fulfillment and meaning in ways that relate to our soul. This will make the process of Teshuvah – repentance, or return – that is generally associated with somberness, into a joyous and happy experience.

Upon reflection we see that joy and Teshuvah are intertwined. If joy is experienced by digging into our soul to discover its natural propensity for joy, this is a form of Teshuvah. For Teshuvah is not repentance, but a return to our natural state of purity; the state our G-dly soul.

Thus, when we discover joy we have essentially returned to our soul’s natural state, and conversely, when we do Teshuvah we discover the joy.

Contrary to conventional wisdom that Teshuvah is associated with sadness, we now come to realize that it is actually the most powerful way to experience true, inner joy.

Connection to Moshiach

The Messianic Age is characterized as a time when “There will be eternal joy on their heads,” because then the inner dimension of our souls will be fully revealed and there will be absolutely no obstruction to our soul’s natural joy.

Thus, we find that the word Moshiach shares the same letters as the word for joy. I fact, it can be read two ways: yismach or yisamach, which translate as, “he will rejoice” or “he will make others rejoice.” Moshiach is chosen to be the ultimate leader, teacher and liberator because he is the one who experiences this unobstructed connection to his soul. He therefore, has the capacity to ignite the spark of Moshiach in all of us so that we have the ability to do the same.

The Rebbe, indeed, taught us that one of the prerequisites for Moshiach is joy. Joy has the capacity to break through all of the barriers that exist, including the one last barrier of exile.

Perhaps we can find an allusion to this in the very beginning of this week’s parsha: “And it shall be (v’haya) when you shall come into the land…”. The Midrash states that the expression “’haya” (and it shall be) is an expression of joy. Joy is the means to G-d once more giving us the land where total peace shall reign.

From the book Light from the Future: Parshas Ki Savo by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.