17 Sep KI-TAVO: GOOD VIBES

The Torah in Parashat Ki-
Tavo makes it very clear that

according to the Torah,
happiness is a really big deal.
This parashah is one of the
two parashiyot in the Torah
which contain a long series of
“curses” – warnings of tragedies that will
befall the Jewish People, Heaven forbid, if we
forsake the Torah. These sections are
customarily read in a low, quiet tone, because
they are so frightening.
Towards the end of the section of curses here
in Parashat Ki-Tavo, the Torah gives the
reason why the people will be punished so
severely: “because you did not serve Hashem
your G-d with joyfully, with a good heart.”
Really?
This is why we will be deserving of
punishment – because we weren’t happy?!?!
Where does the Torah command us to be
happy? Is this even a mitzvah? Of course, we
want to be happy. But this is a
commandment? And such an important
commandment, that violating it brings such
devastating punishment?!?!
Here’s a possible explanation for why
happiness is such a big deal.

The Rabbis in the Midrash make a statement
that certain kinds of people are, in a sense,
considered “dead.” One of these groups is the
poor. People who are poor, the Midrash
teaches, are like they are “dead.”
This is not meant as an insult. This is not to
say that people who struggle financially have
no purpose in the world. Not at all.

Rather, the Midrash is talking about the all-
too-common effects of financial hardship.

So often, when people are going through a
hard time, they feel so helpless, so upset, so
anxious, so uptight, that they can’t function
properly. They lose their vibrancy, their
energy, their ambition. Part of them “dies.”
Conversely, when we feel happy and
invigorated, we are “alive.” We are bursting
with energy, and we are in a position to work
and to achieve, to do amazing things.
We’ve all had times when we feel happy and
excited, and it seems as though we can do
anything we want. And we’ve also had times
when we feel down and upset, and it seems as
though we just can’t do anything.
But it doesn’t have to be this way. Even
when we face a difficult or painful situation,
we can still be happy. It all depends on our
mindset and perspective.

I recall once speaking to a Rabbi in Deal one
year in the beginning of the summer. I told
him, “It must be very hard for you folks here
in the summer, when all of a sudden everything
is crowded, when throngs of people are here.”
“What do you mean?!” he said. “I love
it! It’s so exciting! All these people, so much
excitement, so much going on. It’s great!”
Later, at the end of the summer, I was
speaking to him again, and I asked, “So it
must be hard now, that all those who had
come for the summer are starting to leave.”
“No!” he said. “I love the peace and quiet
here when they all leave.”
He was telling the truth both times. We can
be happy about two opposite situations. It’s
all in our mindset. It’s all about looking for
the positive aspects of every circumstance.
Returning to the pasuk in our parasha –
indeed, happiness matters. When we feel
happy, we feel invigorated. We can
accomplish. We can achieve. There is
no mitzvah to be happy, but we need to be
happy so we can fulfill mitzvot. Happiness is
necessary for us to be able to “live,” to do
what we need to do as people and as Jews.
We need to make it our priority to create
“good vibes” all around us so that we and the

people in our lives will be happy. We do this
by constantly being grateful for the blessings
in our lives, and by pointing out these
blessings – not only to ourselves, but to
others. At home, we need to be thanking and
complimenting each other regularly, and to be
thanking and expressing gratitude to Hashem
regularly. We should be looking for all that is
good in our lives, and talking about it. This is
how we can create good vibes, and generate a
happy atmosphere all around us.
And when we do this, then we can truly
“live” and lead successful and accomplished
lives in every way.