Mourning or Joy

Mourning or Joy?

We are in the Nine Days, about which Chazal say we must minimize our joy. Too much joy is always a problem. Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 561:5) teaches, "One may not fill his mouth with laughter in this world." The Yesod VeShoresh HaAvodah teaches that this is especially so during the Three Weeks.

Yet, this doesn't mean we should be sad. A Yid must always serve Hashem with happiness. The Avodas Yisrael (Masei) writes, "Although we should be sad during these days and mourn the churban Beis HaMikdash, nevertheless, we must be strong to serve Hashem with joy when we study Torah and when we daven, and particularly when we praise Hashem. We can explain this with a mashal: It is the way of a human king to...