Source of Joy—Torah and Mitzvos
For a start, we should generate this great joy by increasing our observance of mitzvos—for “the commandments of Hashem are upright; they gladden the heart.” We should increase our study of both the inner and “revealed” dimensions of Torah—and in the spirit of the Talmudic dictum, “Great is study for it leads to action,” we should enhance our observance of the mitzvos as well.
Constant climb… And within each day, from hour to hour, from minute to minute, and all the more so from one prayer service to the next—for each prayer service includes an elevation to a higher spiritual rung.
Do It in Adar…
Including those joyful matters which you had previously thought to postpone until much later… You should now expedite these plans to as early as possible—“the sooner, the better.” After all, you are bringing it forward to a most “praiseworthy” month, the month of Adar (and are therefore deserving of “praise” for advancing these matters).
True Source of Joy
Naturally, our increased joy stems from the joy of Torah and mitzvos—“the commandments of Hashem are upright; they gladden the heart.” To be more precise, it stems from an increase in all three areas of Torah, prayer, and acts of kindness.
From Spiritual to Physical Joy
Most importantly, our additional involvement in the joy of Torah and mitzvos should fuel an increased joy on the literal level, i.e., in and via physical matters—as explained in Shulchan Aruch regarding Yom Tov.
Happiness Begins at Home
We should make ourselves and others more joyful—beginning with the members of our own households. Husbands should make their wives more cheerful, and parents—particularly fathers—should make their children gladder, with the physical things that naturally make them happy, as explained in Shulchan Aruch regarding Yom Tov.
Fatherly Influence
As we clearly see for ourselves, when a father makes his children happy, their happiness is even greater than when their mother pleases them. For his children know that he is also capable of disciplining them (i.e., “telling them a harsh word” for the sake of education—needless to say, in a manner whereby he subsequently comes to love them all the more). In general, a father should also relate to his children in a disciplinary manner—for example, when testing a child (on his studies) and the child fails to give proper answers and the like. Nevertheless, immediately afterwards, the father consoles and appeases the child.
