Can pretending to be happy make you happy?
Earlier this week, someone in our community was telling me that they sounded better than they felt. This was no accident or illusion, but a serious intention. This person believes that you become what you pretend to be. That’s the practice I’m using to find joy on this Sukkot holiday, known as zman simchateinu (the season of our rejoicing). Jewish tradition marks sadness fairly regularly throughout the year. At this time of year, we are commanded to rejoice.
Commanding emotions is a bold move, and not always successful. We might find ourselves saying “stop whining” or “stop crying” – and what does that achieve? How then can we will ourselves to be happy? As our friend explained, “fake it ‘til you make it.” A Hasidic commentary puts it a little differently. Those who find joy in this holiday have joy to spare for the rest of the year. “By bringing joy to the festival of Sukkot we compensate for all the observances, prayers, and rituals that were themselves without joy. In this manner, it will be as if all of our practices of the year were joyful.” (R. Shmuel Bornsztain, 1855-1926)
Honestly, I have had a hard time mustering joy this year for my favorite holiday, Simchat Torah. All the ways that our community customarily celebrates Torah on this festival are out of reach during the pandemic. We can’t gather in large groups to dance with the Torah; we can’t sing our hearts out; we can’t pass the scrolls from one person to the next, and we definitely can’t stand shoulder to shoulder holding the unfurled scroll. And yet, as we have discovered in so many ways, we can find an ounce of joy in our seemingly joyless isolation. An ounce of joy. That’s all we need. And by stringing my little jewel of joy to yours and yours and yours, next thing you know, we are all smiling and laughing and happy for one another.
As I’ve learned these past six months, Torah is an enormous gift to us in a time of moral bankruptcy. From the first light of Creation to the death of Moses, whose compassionate and wise leadership did not merit his entry into the Promised Land, the teachings of the Five Books of Torah comfort us, guide us, lift us up, hold us close, and send light into the darkness. My practice for this Sukkot and Simchat Torah is to bring my own small offering of joy and to look forward to growing it through your offerings. Please help make Simchat Torah joyful by taking part in one of our online events, with whatever little jewel you can honestly share.
Chag same’ach! (Happy Holiday!)
Rabbi Barbara
