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?
