27 Feb KI SISA: TORAH AND HAPPINESS

Pirkei Avos (6) states
that one of the 48
traits needed to
acquire Torah is
Simchah, joy. The
Maharal (Derech
Chaim Avos 6) explains,
“Simchah is a great
level. When one is happy,
he has perfection
(sheleimus). And when
he has perfection, he can
receive the Torah, which
is the perfection of man.”
The Ibn Ezra (in his
Igeres HaShabbos)
writes, “Every day the gates of comprehension
open, but on Shabbos one hundred gates
open.” Therefore, it is much easier to
understand Torah on Shabbos than on a
weekday. Likewise, the Chazon Ish zt’l
writes that on Shabbos, one can understand
the sections of Torah that he failed to
understand during the week. Perhaps this is
because people are happier on Shabbos, as
Shabbos is called Yom Simchaschem, “Your
day of joy.” And joy is one of the 48 keys
necessary for acquiring the Torah.
Torah is acquired with simchah, and Torah

study itself makes us happy, as it states
(Tehillim 19:9), “Hashem’s mitzvos are
upright; they gladden the heart.” Nothing is
more joyous than studying the Torah and the
performance of the mitzvos.
Ohev Yisrael (Vayikra, Likutim Chadashim)
writes:
“We see many chassidim who become
meshugah, chas veshalom, or depressed.
How did this happen? If you say it is from the
Torah, we know the opposite is true; Torah
makes people happy. (This is why it is
forbidden for mourners to study Torah, as
well as why it is forbidden to study Torah on
Tisha b’Av.) If you say they became insane or
depressed due to their caution in performing
mitzvos, once again, we know that this isn’t
so because (Tehillim 19:9), ‘The mitzvos of
Hashem are upright, causing the heart to
rejoice.’”
The Ohev Yisrael answers that depression
and insanity come when one strives to reach
levels that are far beyond him. But Torah and
mitzvos themselves bring only happiness.
A father asked one of the roshei yeshivah of
Tchebin, Reb Avraham Ganichovsky zt”l, to
speak with his son and to encourage him to
study Torah diligently.
Reb Avraham told the bachur the following
mashal:

A king, his aide, and three advisors strolled
through a forest near the king’s palace. The
king became thirsty and sent his aide to the
palace to get him water. The aide filled a
large crystal cup with water and placed it on
a diamon-studded wooden tray.
Rushing through the forest, the aide tripped,
the water spilled, and the tray fell into a pit.
The aide returned to the palace and brought
another cup of water.
The king quenched his thirst and thanked his
aide, but now the king asked his advisors to
help him retrieve the tray from the pit. The pit
was narrow, and it was impossible to climb
inside.
One advisor said, “We can widen the pit. That
way, we can get inside and retrieve the tray.”
Another advisor spoke up, “That isn’t a good
idea. The tray might break while we dig. It is
also possible that the tray will fall even deeper
into this ditch. Instead, I suggest that we dig
another hole next to the original pit. Then we
can connect the two pits and retrieve the
tray.”
The third advisor said, “That is a very costly
and time-consuming venture. So instead, I
recommend that we fill the pit with water.
Then, the wooden tray will float, and we can
easily take it out.”
Reb Avraham Ganichovsky explained to the

bachur that everyone suffers; it is impossible
to go through this world without hardship.
There are methods that help overcome
distress, but often, these approaches cause
more harm than good. (In the mashal, this
was expressed by widening the pit, which
might cause them to lose the tray forever).
And even when the attempts to attain
happiness are helpful, the effort is enormous,
and it is doubtful whether it is worth the time
and effort. (In the mashal, this was represented
with the counsel to dig another pit and then to
connect them). But there is one foolproof way
to acquire joy and tranquility in this world: to
study Torah. Torah is compared to water (and
in the mashal, it is compared to pouring water
into the pit until the tray comes up). When
one is immersed in Torah, nothing will disturb
him. His life will always be good.