The law indicates that when the month of Av arrives we are to lessen the degree of our Simcha ― joy. This is because in the month of Av both of our Temples were destroyed and other tragic events in our history transpired during the month and particularly on the ninth day of Av.
One should note that the law says that we minimize our joy when Av arrives, however, we still have to maintain a level of joy to function in a proper fashion, for the ingredient of joy is necessary for us every day of the year.
Although Av is designated as a month for mourning and sadness, still, the Talmud relates, that for various reasons, the 15th day of Av, which is this Shabbos, is one of the happiest days of the year.
This means that a short five days after mourning and fasting over the loss of our Temples, there is a major shift in terms of the happiness and joy that we experience. This ability we have to recalculate our emotions enables us as a nation, a family or as an individual with the ability to grow even after sustaining the most difficult challenges. Hashem/G-d instilled this ability in us and it is up to us to tap into it.
My son Tzvi had shared with me an amazing insight from one of the Chasidic masters. The law indicates that when the month of Adar arrives one should add to the levels of Simcha. Understandably, Adar is highlighted for this joy since it is host to the happy day of Purim when the wicked Haman’s decree of genocide for the Jews was averted by Queen Esther interceding on our behalf and by the Jews heeding to her instruction to fast and embrace G-d and His Torah more dearly and faithfully.
We are told to increase our levels of joy when Adar arrives but it doesn’t state when that extra level of joy is to cease. This means that for five months, from the month of Adar through the last day of the month of Tamuz right before Av, we are to maintain an increased level of joy!
How is this achieved on a practical level? King David’s Psalm 100, which we recite in our daily weekday morning prayers, begins with a song of thanks to the Almighty. In it we say, “Ivdu es Hashem B’simcha. – Serve the Almighty with joy.”
How can we access joy when we are serving G-d? After all, we know that at times we face challenges, worries etc. The great Chofetz Chaim o.b.m. had the unique ability to bring home a point through simple but profound examples.
There was a family that was poverty stricken with seemingly no way out of their sad predicament. Out of desperation, the husband/father saved up to purchase a lottery ticket. The lottery was drawn and his number was picked!! When he got home and shared the news with his wife and family the joy and happiness that erupted poured over into the streets. “Our fate has been changed! We are going from the poorest people in town to the richest!”
A passerby heard the commotion coming from the dilapidated house and came in to see what was happening. He was greeted with the man waving of a ticket and excitedly telling his friend, “Look we won the lottery!”
After a few moments things calmed down and the passerby asked the winner why he was so happy and celebrating at this point. Yes, you won, but nothing has changed in your life. You still have basically nothing to eat and you are still living in this poor condition. Only after you go through the process of claiming and receiving your winnings should you celebrate.
The winner, responded, “Yes you are right I don’t have the money right now – but since I have this winning ticket, it is as if the money is in my pocket. All I’m missing is picking up the check. I can therefore celebrate at this point.”
Says the Chofetz Chaim, during life we go through ups and downs when we face various challenges. The thing that can keep one upbeat is knowing that when he observes a Mitzvah, studies Torah, performs acts of kindness, refrains from that which is forbidden, the eternal Heavenly reward for those deeds awaits him and they are as if they are ‘in the bank’ and after 120 years they will be retrieved. The Chofetz Chaim concludes, ‘If one reflects on this, he will invariable be in a state of joy!’
