Thou Shalt Rejoice

Shabbat Nachamu 6 of 7
Parasha:  Ki Tavo – when you come in
Torah:  Devarim 26:1 – 29:9

Did you ever think about being commanded to “be happy”? The Scriptures teach us  more than one hundred and eighty times that someone will “rejoice”.  Not only are we commanded to perform certain tasks, we are also commanded to be happy with doing them!  Here are a couple of examples found in this week’s Torah portion:

So you shall rejoice in every good thing which Avinu Elohekah has given to you and your house, you and the Levite and the stranger who is among you. (De 26:11 )

You shall offer peace offerings, and shall eat there, and rejoice before Avinu Elohekah. (De 27:7 )

Avinu knows that when we perform tasks without joy, we tend to do them in a robotical state with a very limited amount of emotion invested in the process. Avinu isn’t interested in “robots”. This is why he commands us, “You shall love Avinu Elohekah with all your heart…”.  He also encourages us,  Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going. (Ec 9:10 )

This “emotional” state is so important to Avinu that we are warned :

And it shall be, that just as Avinu rejoiced over you to do you good and multiply you, so Avinu will rejoice over you to destroy you and bring you to nothing; and you shall be plucked from off the land which you go to possess. (De 28:63 )