פרשת כי תבוא
In this week’s parsha, the Jewish people are presented with a series of blessings and curses. The blessings promise that the land will give forth its fruit and that the nation will enjoy prosperity and peace. In contrast, the curses promise destruction, death, and exile, in which the Jewish people become victims of the greatest atrocities of all time. What sin warrants such brutal retribution? The Torah tells us that such punishment comes “because you did not serve Hashem your G-d with joy…” Why is serving Hashem without joy such a crime? If the entire nation were to abandon the Torah, has v’shalom, there would be no purpose in the continued existence of the Jewish People. For such an evil, such severe punishment is understandable. However, is serving Hashem without joy so bad that the entire populace deserves such suffering? Additionally, in many other places in the Tanach and even in this parsha, the destruction of the Jewish commonwealth is attributed to the national abandonment of Torah law, not merely for lacking appreciation for the bliss of keeping mitzvos. What is the Torah trying to say here?
Rav Simcha Zissel writes in Part 1 of his book “Chochma and Mussar” that it may be true that only abandonment of the mitzvos deserves such severe punishment. However, one who lacks joy in performing mitzvos should realize that he is on a path that leads away from the Torah. Experiencing joy in mitzvos is critical for all of us. Our very observance of the Torah depends on it. If one does not feel the joy of the mitzvos, he will ultimately find service of G-d to be burdensome and he will not be exacting in the performance of mitzvos because he lacks the excitement to do so. Little by little, lack of joy in avodas Hashem will cause a person to become weak in his observance of the Torah and ultimately, he will abandon it completely. When one finds the mitzvos to be onerous, he communicates to himself and to all those around him just how much he values avodas Hashem. This week’s parsha actually teaches us that the absence of joy in doing mitzvos was really the root cause that led to the Jewish people’s desertion of the Torah and the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash. Furthermore, simcha also is vital in a positive way as well. Simcha gives us the strength to advance in avodas Hashem and deepens our relationship with G-d. A Jew needs to appreciate the gift of the mitzvos and experience delight in his avodas Hashem if he wants to grow and become closer to G-d. It may be true that one cannot merely choose to “feel happy” about doing mitzvos. However, we all have the power to choose whether we want to cherish the mitzvos and look at them as gifts or see them as cumbersome obligations. This choice will ultimately make the difference between growing in spirituality and drifting away from it. The Kotzker Rebbe even said that one’s spiritual level is dependent on how happy he is to do mitzvos. It is particularly our happiness that will set us on the path of avodas Hashem and reaching spiritual fulfillment.
The Mashgiach of Mir, Rav Aryeh Finkel, asks an interesting question. How can it be that Hashem commands us to fear Him, but also commands us to be happy? When one truly is able to understand G-d’s Awesomeness, how can he possibly be joyful? Fear and joy are opposite emotions! Rav Finkel answers that fear of Hashem gives us a context for understanding why we should be overjoyed with the opportunity to do mitzvos. When one appreciates that G-d is the author of our very existence and every action that we do has tremendous importance and ultimately determines our very eternity, how can we not be excited with the privilege to serve Hashem through the mitzvos? When one fears the calamity of missing the chance to actualize his very existence, he will be overjoyed with the opportunity that each mitzvah presents. It is inspiring to know that at every moment, we all have the opportunity to make the right choice and choose the gift of life that G-d has placed in front of us.
Rav Yitzhak Zilbershtein says that even though the Yamim Noraim are days of judgment during which our lives hang in the balance, we should also appreciate the joy of these times. This is a special period of time for personal growth and furthermore, we can actually cleanse ourselves from all kinds of terrible sins. On Yom Kippur, Hashem Himself purifies us completely. This is a season that offers an opportunity for incredible closeness to G-d. We shouldn’t get depressed because of the serious gravity of these days. We should appreciate them as G-d’s gift to us. Rav Yechezkel Levinshtein actually called the Yamim Noraim “Happy Days.” These are the days when we can throw away our sins and develop a truly close relationship with Hashem.
Many years ago, Rav Nosson Sherman wrote an article for the Jewish Observer. Rav Sherman said that when he was young, he had an experience that truly made an impact on his life. He grew up in an era when American Jewry was very weak and there was no particular esteem for Torah observant Jews. However, one day he went to shul for a siyum that was to be attended by Rav Moshe Feinstein, a primary influence on American Jewry and one of the greatest Torah scholars of the past century. Rav Moshe spoke with great passion, and although Rav Sherman admitted that he did not understand the complexity of the Torah discussion, Rav Moshe’s final words of encouragement to those in attendance will always stay with him. Rav Moshe, his face shining with joy, told the crowd that the most important thing that a parent can give his child is the happiness of doing mitzvos and the pride of being a Jew loyal to the Torah. “There’s nothing worse for a parent to tell a child than, ‘It’s hard to be a Yid,’” Rav Moshe said, “We mustn’t show our children that it’s hard to be a Jew. It’s a joy to be a Jew!” Rav Moshe’s whole face beamed with light, and this moment remained a tremendous inspiration for Rav Sherman throughout his life. Rav Sherman later became one of the founders of Artscroll Publications and is responsible for making many works of Torah accessible to English audiences, bringing many to higher levels of Torah observance and a greater appreciation of their Judaism. Look at how powerful finding joy in mitzvos can be!
May we all be zoche to serve Hashem with joy!!!