A Short Vort - Re'eh 5786
Parshas Re'eh contains one of the Torah's greatest themes: simchah - joy - in the service of Hashem. As Moshe Rabbeinu continues preparing Bnei Yisrael to enter Eretz Yisrael, he repeatedly commands the nation to observe the mitzvos with joy. Throughout this parsha, the Torah repeats the obligation of celebrating before Hashem, particularly in the place He will choose for His Divine Presence.
In fact, seven times in Parshas Re'eh alone the Torah uses the root ש.מ.ח commanding us to rejoice before Hashem, to celebrate the festivals, to include our families, the Levi, the convert, the orphan and the widow in our happiness, and to recognize that all blessing comes from Him.
For example:
וּשְׂמַחְתֶּם לִפְנֵי ה' אֱלֹקִיכֶם - And you shall rejoice before Hashem your G-d (Devarim 12:12(. וּשְׂמַחְתָּ לִפְנֵי ה' אֱלֹקִיךָ - You shall rejoice before Hashem your G-d (12:18). וּשְׂמַחְתָּ בְּחַגָּךָ... וְהָיִיתָ אַךְ שָׂמֵחַ - You shall rejoice on your festival... and you shall be only joyful (16:14-15).
The repetition is striking. Joy is not presented as an occasional emotion, nor as a reward after the mitzvah has been fulfilled. Rather, joy itself becomes part of the mitzvah.
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, z'l, points out a remarkable pattern. The root ש.מ.ח appears only once in Sefer Bereishis, once in Sefer Shemos, once in Sefer Vayikra, and once in Sefer Bamidbar. In contrast, it appears twelve times in Sefer Devarim - seven of those occurrences being found in our parsha alone! (Covenant & Conversation, Deuteronomy, p.125).
Perhaps this is no coincidence.
Sefer Devarim is Moshe Rabbeinu's final message to the nation before they enter Eretz Yisrael. Forty years of wandering are drawing to a close. A generation has matured. They are about to leave the miraculous existence of the wilderness and begin ordinary national life - farming, building homes, raising families, establishing courts, defending borders, and creating a Torah society.
It is precisely at this moment that Moshe repeatedly speaks about simcha. Life in Eretz Yisrael will undoubtedly contain challenges. There will be years of abundant harvests and years of drought. There will be moments of celebration and moments of loss. There will be victories and disappointments. Yet Moshe teaches that the defining characteristic of Jewish life is not merely survival, but joyful service of Hashem.
Perhaps this also explains why the Torah repeatedly commands that our rejoicing include others: וְהַלֵּוִי... וְהַגַּר וְהַיָּתוֹם וְהָאַלְמָנָה - the Levi, the convert, the orphan, and the widow (Devarim 16:11,14). True simcha is never private. It naturally overflows to those around us. The joy of Torah creates a community in which no one celebrates alone.
This idea is beautifully reflected in Pirkei Avos. Ben Zoma teaches: אֵיֶזֶהוּ עָשִׁיר? הַשָּׂמֵחַ בְּחֶלְקוֹ Who is wealthy? One who rejoices in his portion (Avos 4:1).
At first glance, the Mishnah seems to define wealth. However, in truth, it is defining happiness.
The world often teaches that happiness comes after we acquire more - more possessions, more recognition, more influence, more success. Ben Zoma teaches precisely the opposite. Joy is not the result of having everything we desire. Joy is the ability to recognize the blessing in what Hashem has already entrusted to us.
Perhaps this is also the deeper message of Rabbi Sacks' observation.
If the shoresh ש.מ.ח appears twelve times in Devarim, perhaps these twelve occurrences correspond to the twelve tribes of Israel. The Torah may be teaching us that every shevet possessed a different mission, different territory, different strengths, and different responsibilities. Each tribe occupied its own unique place within the national tapestry.
Yet all twelve shared one obligation equally: to serve Hashem with joy.
Every Jew has different kochos. Every family faces different challenges. Every individual walks a different path. One person excels in Torah learning. Another in chessed. One builds a home filled with warmth and hospitality. Another quietly strengthens the community through generosity, encouragement, or countless unseen acts of kindness.
While our portions differ, our obligation to live with simchah does not.
We live in an age of constant comparison. Social media allows us to see everyone else's accomplishments, vacations, celebrations, homes, families, and milestones. It becomes all too easy to measure our lives against someone else's blessings.
The Torah asks us to look in the opposite direction. Instead of asking, "Why do they have what I lack?" we ask, "How can I serve Hashem with the gifts He has given me?"
That shift transforms envy into gratitude, frustration into purpose, and comparison into contentment.
A nation that serves Hashem joyfully becomes a nation that radiates faith.
May we merit to fulfill the words of Ben Zoma by becoming truly same'ach b'chelko. May we use our individual talents and blessings to strengthen Klal Yisrael, and may our joy in serving Hashem inspire those around us.
And in this merit, may we soon rejoice together in the rebuilt Yerushalayim, speedily in our days.
,בברכת בשורות טובות ושבת שלום
Michal