Unbounded Limitless Joy.

 

When Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok was still a little boy in Russia, he fell asleep in one of the temporary huts-Sukkot, we live in for seven days during this period of time.  It was cold, and his mother came in to bring him back into the house. Her husband Rabbi Sholom Dov Ber said, he should remain, but the boys’ mother said, “It is cold here and he could get sick.” The father answered,” he will not catch any colds. When he sleeps (here in the Sukkah) in the company of the learned, he will be warmed, and this warmth will last him for generation to come.”

The holiday at the beginning of the year and the Day of Atonement is one day respectively. These are serious days of meditation, introspection and judgment. However, the days we are instructed to eat and live in the Sukkah is seven days, when the bible tells us no less than three times to be joyous!

It is quite evident that G-d wants us to be happy and joyous, much more than to fast and be serious. “Serve G-d in Joy come before Him in song.” “Because you did not serve G-d in joy, all these difficult things come upon you.”

During this holiday when the Temple was still standing in Jerusalem there was a celebration that is recorded in the Talmud. “Whoever did not see this celebration, never saw joy in their lives.”  Instead of only pouring wine on the altar they would also pour water.

Wine and water represent two very different approaches to serving G-d. Wine has its own inherent taste and is enjoyed differently by each person according to their specific palate and appreciation for the drink. This represents serving G-d with logic and rational thinking, each person according to their own specific level of depth and breadth.

Water has no taste, it’s the same for everyone. This represents the service of G-d that comes from dedicating and committing oneself totally, beyond understanding or any logic. This is a service of G-d that goes beyond any personal thoughts or feelings regarding the matter.  At first this method seems dry and one of subservience, while when someone understands and appreciates logically and rationally how they personally derive benefit from the service, this would seem to have greater personal enjoyment and value.

However we see that the great joy did not come as a result and in conjunction of the pouring of the wine, rather from the pouring and the service of the water.

Real deep and powerful joy is the result of an occurrence or experience that is totally unexpected beyond any understanding.  That is why it moves a person beyond their own limitations. We see when someone is completely overwhelmed and astounded with joy they will jump, sing, talk and bubble with energy even if usually this behavior is totally not their nature.

In order for someone to bring on a joy that carries them beyond their regular self, the cause and reason for such joy must also be beyond personal limitations. As long as it all makes sense to me, my joy will be within my own boundaries. However when I have given of myself totally, it’s gone so far that it’s beyond being able to explain my dedication within the confines of logic, that is when we bring on a limitless deep sense of joy personal fulfillment and happiness.

We connect with each other and communicate with zest and fervor, there is exilhiration in the air and even in a cold sukkah, and even if it’s only a child and he happens to be sleeping the energy is contagious and will rub off and remain for generations to come.