Originally featured on Arutz Sheva.
Joy! Sounds like a simple term. Perhaps one may think it is connected to happiness, but a more ecstatic form of it. Are we to be happy, no matter what? What if I have to pay taxes, or my bills are skyrocketing? What if I am on lockdown for weeks. Am I to approach all this with joy?
Seems to be so. In fact, Hashem says something interesting in the Torah: “Since you did not serve G-d your G-d with joy and with gladness of heart …you will serve your enemies” (Deut. 28:47). Seems a little harsh. If we aren’t joyous, then Hashem will allow our enemies to do with us as they wish. Is that what is meant to be understood from this?
The Singing Soul 