Now Is the Time to Be Joyful By Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, Dean of Ateret Cohanim and Rabbi of Bet El Translated by Bracha Slae (The following article by Rabbi Aviner appeared in the latest "Yesha Yemini" journal of Yesha rabbis): It is always a time to be joyful, but now more than ever, in our current "situation". Joy may be empty and meaningless, but it may also be "simcha shel mitzvah" - the inspired, pure "joy of doing a mitzvah." There are two kinds of "joy of doing a mitzvah." One is the result of doing a mitzvah, a feeling of deep satisfaction that we have done the will of Gd. In the words of the Rambam, this is "the joy that a person feels when (s)he has done a mitzvah with love of Gd Who has given us mitzvot" (see Rambam, end of Hilchot Succah and Lulav). But joy is not only the result of doing a mitzvah. It also helps us to fulfill mitzvot "such as hachanasat kala (celebrating with a bride)" according to Rashi, or as in the verse, "And now, get a musician for me. And when the musician played, the hand of Gd rested upon him" (Shabbat 30b). So too, today, "When Gd has returned us to Zion, we were like dreamers; then our mouths were filled with glee" (Psalms/ Tehillim 126). By divine decree, we have returned to our land, and have become the Almighty's partners in ingathering the exiles, building Eretz Israel, establishing a state, an army, and reviving the study of Torah. What great joy it is to be Gd's partners! We also feel joy so as to be better equipped for this challenging task. There are those who despair: "In these difficult times, with terror attacks all over, how can we feel happy?" But we say, "On the contrary! Happiness is the key to our strength. Acts of terrorism cannot destroy a whole nation, but they can discourage, disturb, and frighten us. Therefore, anyone who is discouraged, disturbed, or frightened is simply playing into the terrorists' hands. In contrast, anyone who remains optimistic and joyous will conquer terror. When the wicked see that their terror does not help them reach their goals, they will cease. In this war against terror, we are all soldiers - men, women and children alike. Our youngest generations are amazing. Our children are brave and joyous. The world was sure that after 2000 years of exile, torture, persecution, and deportations, we would be a nation of rag dolls. They were wrong. The world was sure that after such a terrible holocaust, we would be broken forever. They were wrong. We survived came to Eretz Israel to build it and to be reborn here, full of youthful vigor and joy. Who could believe it? There are those among us who cannot stop sighing and wringing their hands, but they are a fringe minority. May Hashem have mercy upon them and give them strength. Every day I meet happy little children who suffer no trepidation. Every day I meet women who tell me, "I drive to work no matter what. I am needed there and will not let them down." Neither will we let our roads be empty. I am reminded of Antoine de Saint Exupery, author of The Little Prince, who worked as a pilot for the French Postal Service. "Air mail goes out no matter what the weather is," he would say. If any little storm makes us stay home, the mail will never go out. How much more does this apply to the air of Eretz Israel, which "makes us wiser." Optimism is at once a science, a character trait, and a sign of faith in Gd. It is a rational, precise science. We must not look at what is happening all around us through the tiny hole of a soft drink straw. We must look at the whole picture and realize that the good in the world far outweighs the bad. A scientific approach is not emotional, does not see things selectively, but rather examines the evidence objectively, and attempts to reach a general truth. Open your eyes! Look at the country we have built, the ingathering of the exiles, the establishment of the state, the IDF, the revival and flowering of Torah study! What are the minor problems we have compared to these? A small cloud in front of the sun, in the clear blue sky! Optimism is also a desirable character trait. As soon as we awake in the morning, we thank Gd by saying, "Modeh ani." And in the Shmoneh Esreh we thank Him, "for Your miracles every day, evening, morning, and afternoon. (You are) the Good, for Your mercy is endless, and the Merciful, for Your kindness never ceases." Of course, we do go through crises, and they are the crucial test. Can we continue to say these words then? Optimism is faith in Gd. This is the heart of the matter: Do we really believe in Hashem? Do we believe that a living Gd Who has the power to redeem us is in our midst or not? Do we believe that not only "good things" are good, but that ALL that Gd does is good? Do we believe that the Almighty causes sweetness to come from bitterness, and light from darkness? Now is not the time to cry, or to mourn. Now is the time to rejoice and to dance. It is time to serve Gd with joy, joy that will heal all wounds and drive out the darkness. Now is the time to accept upon ourselves the yoke of heaven with joy. A time for joy!