Jewish Teachings about Joy as a Prerequisite for Wholesome Spirituality

"We got driven from our homeland and sovereignty: "Because you did not serve the Creator your God with gladness" (Deuteronomy 28:47)

"The Revelation at Sinai came down in a language of joy" (Midrash Tanna D'Bei Elayahu Rabbah, Ch.13)

"The authentic spirit of Torah can be experienced only through gladness" (Midrash Tanna D'Bei Eliyahu Zutta, Ch. 17)

"To be meaningful, the Torah needs to be practiced with delight and joy" (Midrash Vayikra Rabbah 34:9)

"The shechinah (divine presence) does not abide in an atmosphere of sullenness, only in one of gaiety." (Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 30b) "

Divine inspiration eludes an unhappy heart." (Jerusalem Talmud, Sukkah 5:1)

"Says God: 'Rejoice in my precepts and I, too, will add further joy to yours" (Midrash Tanchuma, Tazria, Ch. 5)

"Power and joyfulness dwell in the place where God dwells" (1 Chronicles 16:27)

"Rabbi Papa said: 'In the dwelling place of God, there exists only joy" (Babylonian Talmud, Hagigah 5a)

"It is a great mitzvah (sacred deed) to be in joy always.... When there is defect in one's quality of joy, it leads to illness...and it is through rejoicing that all illnesses are cured...The principle of the matter is that you should muster all your powers to be always in a state of joy. For our nature is to incline toward being depressive and sullen due to afflictions that befall us and to the circumstances of the moment, and everyone is filled with troubles. Therefore, you need to move yourself with great effort towards becoming joyful always and to gladden yourself with whatever it is that you can find, and even by means that appear silly. And while a broken heart, too, has its very positive qualities, nevertheless it should be relegated only to a particular hour of the day, to break your heart out of your troubles to the Source of Blessing, as is our tradition. But during the rest of the entire day, you should be in a state of joy" (18th century Rabbi Nachman of Breslav in Likutei HaMoHaRaN Tanina, Chapter 24, paragraphs 1 and 2)

"From jesting purpose is brought to wisdom, for if there were no silliness in the world, neither would there be wisdom in the world. Indeed, it is a responsibility upon every person to experience a bit of jesting and to know her. For there is a greater purpose lent to wisdom that comes from out of clowning around as there is greater illumination lent to light that comes from out of the darkness. For without darkness, there is no light, and the light would serve no purpose. Rabbi Shim'on once said to Rabbi Abba: "Come and see! The mystery of a thing is not illuminated except within the context of jesting, which awakens it from the other dimension, and if not for that illumination, there would be no empowerment or purpose to wisdom. And the more jesting, the more clarity is brought to wisdom. Moreover, if there would be no jesting found in the world, there would be no wisdom found in the world. And thus did the Grandfather, Rabbi Ham'muna, always begin his mystery teachings for the clan with several jokes, for through jesting does wisdom have any purpose." (the Zohar, Volume 3, Folio 47b)

"And Sarah said: 'Laughter has God made for me'" (Genesis 21:6). This teaches us that when Yitzchak (Isaac:literally, "laughter") was born, all those who were sick became healed; all those who were deaf could hear; all those who were blind, could see. This is what she meant when she (Sarah) said: "Laughter has God made for me." (Midrash Tanchuma, Va'yera, Ch. 37)

"Three characteristics render one lovable to others: an outstretched arm, a set table laden with food, and a jovial countenance." (Babylonian Talmud, Ta'anit 22a)

'"Rabbi B'roka of Chaza'ah was wandering about the marketplace in Lepet when the spirit of Elijah appeared to him. Said the rabbi: "Tell me, is there anyone in the marketplace who is great enough to merit a share in the World to Come?" Said Elijah: "Not a one." As they were walking, they spotted two men in the distance. Said Elijah: "These two are sons of the World to Come." Curious, Rabbi B'roka approached the two and asked them: "what is your work?" Said they" "We are clowns. We cheer up those who are sad. Also, when we see two people in conflict, we intervene and make fun until they become peaceful with one another."' (Babylonian Talmud, Ta'anit 22a)

'"An incident occurred, that a man died and left instructions in his will that "My son should not inherit anything of mine until he becomes a fool. " When the matter came before Rabbi Yosi bar Yehuda Ha'Nasi they were perplexed by it and decided to bring the matter to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Kor'cha. When they arrived at his place they hid from his sight because they found him crawling about his hands and knees with a straw in his mouth waddling after his young son. After he had finished playing with his son, they approached him and asked him if he could interpret the will. He began to laugh and said to them: "By your lives, the matter of which you have come to inquire, just this past moment I had been demonstrating (that the man's son would not inherit anything until he became a father)." From here we learn that when a man becomes a father, he becomes a clown."' (Midrash Tehillim 92:13)

 

Complied by Rabbi Gershon Winkler