Shabbat Sukkot
"You shall rejoice in your Festival". But how?
During the holidays, and especially in Sukkot, Hashem commands us to be happy –"וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְּחַגֶּךָ", "You shall rejoice in your Festival". But in a time of uncertainty, war, anxiety, and despair, how can we be happy at all?
According to Judaism, joy is a central and important value that is expressed in a variety of ways and times. Holidays such as Sukkot, Passover and Shavuot are accompanied by great joy; The Jewish wedding is an event accompanied by joy and dancing, where the couple is blessed and celebrates with their loved ones; On Shabbat it is even forbidden to be sad because Shabbat is compared to a good form of the afterlife; And in prayer we make sure to thank Hashem for all the good we have in life.
Joy in Judaism does not stem from material things, but from spiritual values, from family and community, and from Jewish culture that sees joy as a mitzvah. The Mishnah in Tractate Taanit states that "when the month of Av enters, we reduce our joy." "Reduce", but one does not cease to be happy, because "it is a great mitzvah to always be happy," as Rabbi Nachman of Breslov said.
And yet, in times of crises and challenges, joy seems like a difficult goal to achieve. Since October 7th, thousands of people have been displaced, the northern part of Israel is bombarded daily, and the war continues in the south, with 101 abductees still held captive by Hamas. So how can we rejoice? Here are 5 tips to help you stay happy and optimistic even during a crisis:
Focusing on the good
In times of crises, our natural tendency is to concentrate on the challenges and negative situations that arise from them. But fortunately, there are ways to deal with crises optimistically and maintain a positive focus, even during difficult times. It is important to understand that a positive outlook can improve our ability to cope with the situation more effectively.
First, we must recognize and appreciate the positive things in our lives, even in crises. Joy and happiness can be found within the simple, small moments in life. It is not for nothing that we begin the morning with the prayer "Modeh Ani" in order to start the day by thanking Hashem for the kindness He does with us every minute. Focusing on the positive things can help us maintain a positive focus and turn a time of crisis into opportunity, growth, and development.
When we focus on the "positive," we change our perception of reality and shift our consciousness away from problems and obstacles to other directions and possibilities. It allows us to experience moments of joy and well-being even in difficult times.
Time for myself
In times of crisis, we tend to ignore taking care of ourselves, our psyche, so it is very important to remember and make time in our schedule for ourselves, in order to deal with things that do us good. Rebbe Nachman of Breslov says that "seclusion is the highest virtue of everything," an hour when one can disconnect from all external and internal noises and simply speak to Hashem. Even those who are not loners must understand that time with myself is not a luxury – it is necessary! In times of crises we tend to ignore the things that are important to us and deal only with the difficult situation we are experiencing. However, this is a time when it is very important to take a moment to breathe, focus and fill ourselves, so that we have the strength to rejoice and overcome any challenge.
In self-time, you can read a book, engage in sports, pray, walk in nature or even be alone in a quiet place and try to look at the situation from a different perspective. Whatever comes to mind will work, the goal is to find activities that will give you peace and joy and allow you to feel better.
Focus on what you can change
In Tractate Brachot, the Talmud says: "And Rabbi Hanina said: Everything is in the hands of Hashem, except reverence of Hashem." In other words, all human affairs are determined from Hashem, and we cannot change them, except for one thing — the way we feel about Hashem. Whether a person will be righteous or wicked will be determined only by the person himself.
We often struggle with things that are out of our control. According to Judaism, everything that happens in our lives is from Hashem and we cannot change it. We can pray, we can change our attitude, but Hashem decides what is good for each of us, and even if at the moment it seems like a very great difficulty, this too will turn for the better. Therefore, in times of crisis we must focus on what we can change and improve, and not despair of everything that is beyond our control.
Live the day
Let go of worries and fully surrender to the present moment. Be consciously present for what you are doing now and not for things that happened yesterday or will happen tomorrow. Any departure from focus in this moment can lead to anxiety and sadness. What will happen tomorrow? Will the war ever end? Will I find a good job? Will I find a partner? These are questions that are irrelevant now because "you do not know what the day will bring" (Proverbs 27:1). The Book of Psalms says: "Cast your burden on the Hashem and He will sustain you" (Psalm 55:23). “You don't have to worry about tomorrow, so focus on what you're doing now, let go of control, and let Hashem continue to run His world”.
Help others
In Judaism, גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים – charity and benevolence - is a great mitzvah. Every action done for others, whether it is giving Tzedaka, visiting the sick or helping those in need, is an act that will also make you feel happy. With the beginning of the war, the people of Israel united and helped wherever possible. According to the Mishnah, "the world stands on the Torah, on work, and on charity." Every act of giving has a positive effect on both the recipient and the person who gave. Therefore, In times of crisis it is worthwhile to donate and help, either through charity or good deeds, in order to restore joy to our hearts.
Remember, happiness is a person's natural tendency. Babies and children are happy almost most of the time. They don’t take the time to worry about the future but enjoy the moment and their surroundings. This tendency can be developed and strengthened, even in difficult times. By focusing on the positive things in life, supporting others, and accepting things as they are, we can live happily even in moments of crisis.
Coming up:
JNA In The Sukkah ✨
If you are 13-17 years old this is for you!
We invite you to join us for a fun evening in our Sukkah, filled with friends and snacks :)
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Wishing you all a sweet and happy new year,
!גמר חתימה טובה
Ariel, Roni and Tomer HaCohen :)
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