INEVITABLE: This WILL happen to every soul

The emphasis of Chasidism compared with the teachings of Mussar, is on the importance of being joyful; developing a true joy – not an affected one. It’s precisely because Torah is called the Torah of Truth, that it’s commandments must be studied and fulfilled with sincerity, and one’s joy in serving God must likewise be genuine. The main cause for true joy: Every Jew without exception, regardless his spiritual state, possesses a Godly soul, “an actual part of God,” which is always whole and intact within him. The special emphasis placed on joy by Chasidism in daily life is in keeping with the verse, “a cheerful heart is always feasting,” which is also the basis of the ruling of Rabbi Moshe Isserles in his glosses on the Code of Jewish Law, at the conclusion of the Laws of Daily Life. Since the name of each section of the Code of Jewish Law was provided by its authors to illuminate its contents, a Jew’s life must reflect the two constants cited in the code. First, “I have placed the Lord before me always,” a verse which appears in the opening paragraph of the very first section of the code, Laws of Daily Life, which concludes with the second constant, “a cheerful heart is always feasting.” Now, if one is always aware of God’s oversight, then how, in times of a spiritual fall – which everyone experiences, can Jewish Law demand, in the very same breath, that a Jew fulfill what is stated both at the beginning and at the end, to be joyful on the one hand, and in awe of God’s presence on the other? The answer: Regardless his spiritual state, a Jew possesses “a part of God” within; it is his inner essence eternal reality. Torah assures him that in the end he will be reconciled with God; nothing can extinguish this Godly spark, and any downfall is superficial and temporary. Ultimately, the Jewish soul will return to God; it is destined to do so through teshuva, repentance, which can transform even willful sins into merits. This fact alone should provide increased joy. And what entitles a Jew to such certainty? The very fact that he is instructed to “place God before him always,” by Torah itself. This is not something he has to create on his own, Torah is simply saying, “See the reality: God is always with you.” You just need to bring it into action. As Rabbi Moshe Isserless quotes, “A man who is alone cannot be compared to one who knows that he is together with God.” The take-away in terms of our discussion: Joy helps us navigate the deep darkness of exile looming from the world outside, as well as the spiritual darkness lurking within, which tries to dishearten a Jew with guilt, saying, “Shame on you! Despite your own experience and better judgement, you still entertain thoughts about cutting back on your Torah study, charity, or synagogue attendance, because of the external pressures that you face?” The person doesn’t realize that God is testing him, “to see if you truly love the Lord your God.” It was all a test, nothing more than an illusion. The Lesson: A Jew must indeed live in the real world, and create a dwelling place for God within it. But the notion that involvement in the world should interfere with your Torah study, charity, or synagogue attendance, all in the fullest measure, is all an illusion, because the God that created this world and guides it, is the same God that commanded us to study Torah, give charity, and pray with a quorum.