Rabbi Yerahmiel Barylka
The Precept of Rejoicing
Our actions have meaning and consequences. They leave traces of which we are not aware and others, which when we decide to erase them, leave us halos, which when discovered can give us more than one headache.
This Shabbat Ki Tavo, so close to Rosh Hashanah, the new year of Judaism, presents us with a mirror so that we can see ourselves. This revelation will not always be pleasant, but it allows us to correct what we see as disorganized before crossing the threshold of our residence.
The long list of execrations that we will read in the Parashah have that objective: to recognize the consequences of our actions, before they appear suddenly and violently. Let us notice that in the passage of reprimands we read as a cause: «Because you have not served .A. your God with joy and happiness of heart»…
This is always valid and advisable, but it is even more so when the entire world continues to suffer from the pandemic and many, exhausted by so many limitations, withered from seeing the suffering of the sick and bloodless from the pain of the bereaved of so many deceased people, lower their spirits. level of precautions to avoid contagion and prevent the virus from spreading.
But, in the same parashah a few columns away on the parchment from which its text is read, along with the fulfillment of Bicurim, a precept that spontaneously brought joy to all the people, a great rule of service appears implicit: beware of depression! as much as possible! we must serve with joy! Only if crying comes from joy, then it is a great good. Being able to comply with the norm with joy is the antidote to all evil.
The Baal Shem Tov taught that despondency and despair are a great obstacle to true service. And even when we truly stumble in transgression, we must not allow anxiety to overcome us because we have not been able to serve as we could or would have liked. After the sadness of transgression we must find a way to reconcile ourselves with the Creator.
We must reflect on the verse of chapter 28: «All these curses will fall on you, they will pursue you and overtake you until they destroy you, because you have not listened to the voice of .A. your God, keeping the commandments and the precepts that he has prescribed for you. They will be like a sign and a wonder on you and on your descendants forever. For not having served .A. your God in joy and happiness of heart, when you abounded in everything. It confronts us with a harsh reality that we are not always aware of. It is very difficult to be happy and exhilarated. Much more arduous in times of pandemic, much more thorny when we have to comply with rules that we feel distant from us. Like when our muscles hurt and cramp after we have forgotten to exercise our body.
This Shabbat, like every day and more than ever, we must gather all the resources to be happy. Human nature tends towards depression and sadness. Everybody has problems. We must work very hard to force ourselves to be constantly happy and do everything possible to keep ourselves happy, even with seemingly silly things like wearing masks in public places, avoiding entering areas that may be threatening. If we comply while being happy we will only receive blessings, which we always need so much and more so in the month of Elul.