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Maintaining Simchas Yom Tov – by Pinchas Halevi Doppelt

Dear Readers,

We are approaching the joyful Yom tov of Sukkos, Zman Simchaseinu. The Vilna Gaon tells us that this is the most challenging of all mitzvos – mitzva to remain joyful throughout all eight days. However, the seforim tell us that one who stays joyful this yom tov, will remain joyful all year. Obviously, it sounds impossible for most of us. Someone who has a family with kvetchy, wild kids who keep fighting and bickering may find this extremely challenging. Some people have children who keep complaining about almost everything, so how can they stay joyful for seven whole days?

Others find themselves in a lonely situation in their life which can make it extremely challenging as well. Everyone has his challenges.

So, let us present several practical ideas that can perhaps help us be successful in our mission to remain happy on Sukkos.

1. Take it one day at a time. Tell yourself, “today will be a joyous day”; tomorrow is another day and we will deal with it then”.

2. Most importantly, we must realize with utmost clarity and emuna that Hashem is in control, and our job is to do the best we can. Perhaps when Hashem sees how hard we are trying to be joyful and how much it means to us, He will then smoothen the road. There are many stories that bring out this concept. The most popular one is with Yosef and the wife of Potifar. According to the laws of nature, it seemed to be a checkmate with his nisayon. However, Hashem really made this story happen so that Yosef would go to jail (and eventually get out of Mitzrayim though that), and so he was out of her clutches.

The bottom line is that we must make the goal of one day at a time and daven to Hashem to help us overcome our nisayon and to remain joyful.

3. The Yom Tov of Sukkos is all about bitachon, as the seforim tell us.

I once heard a nice remez that according to halacha, ultimately one can have two walls and a little bit. Interestingly, two walls and a tefach looks like an arm with a hand which symbolizes a hug from Hashem. Perhaps we can add that the arm symbolizes that we are in the Arm of Hashem which is the ultimate bitachon.

Yes, Hashem is taking care of us, and He will always take care of us. So, if your children are acting up, remind yourself who is in the driver’s seat so you will not get stressed out. 4. Another idea is to keep singing happy, upbeat songs which bring about a ruach of simcha.

5. Another idea is to prepare divrei Torah and upbeat stories that will uplift your family and yourself to remain joyful.

Wishing all of Kllal Yisroel a most joyful yom tov ever.

Who knows how much of a nachas ruach this will bring to Hashem. This will definitely help bring Moshiach –and hopefully this yom tov!

Here are a couple of stories about tzadikim who were wild as children!

When the Chakal Yitzchak of Spinka, Rav Yitzchak Isaac Weiss, was a child, he was very mischievous! Running wild and breaking things time after time – both items and windows broke! (And especially in those days when glass shattered much more easily than the tempered glass we have today.) His father, Reb Yosef would pay for any damages he was required to according to halacha. When his neighbors asked why he never gets upset with the child and never rebukes him, he smiled and said, “Don’t worry, when he grows up, many doors and windows will be broken!”

And indeed!, little Yitzchak grew up and became one of the great Talmidei chachamim and the Rebbe of thousands of chassidim who came to his bais medrash. The crowd was so large that the doors and windows of the bais medrash were broken from the press of the crowd – just as his father had predicted!

Another story is about the children of the Brisker Rav. They were very lively, and sometimes broke things – even expensive items, yet he never got upset. Only when a couple of his sons – around ten years old – once went to a Reform neighbor and ate from their food and read from their books – something that was strictly against the rules – did he get very upset.

Rav Chayim Pinchas Scheiberg too said in a shiur for ladies that he was somewhat wild as a child.

A freilichen yom tov!

Pinchas Halevi Doppelt