When the Yidden heard the meraglim's report about the strength of the nations living in Eretz Canaan, it states (14:1), "The entire community raised their voices and shouted, and the people wept on that night." Chazal (Taanis 29) say, "That night was Tisha b'Av. Hakadosh Baruch Hu told them, 'You cried for no reason (בכיה של חינם); I will establish this day for crying for generations (בכיה לדורות).'" The Imrei Emes zt'l noted that if crying for no reason resulted in crying for generations, when one is happy for no reason (שמחה לדורות), that will result in joy for salvation. Laugh and be happy, even if you think you have no reason to be happy. This will result in many reasons to be happy.
The holy Rizhiner zt'l told the following story:
A wealthy person was going through hard times, and he moaned and kvetched about his tzaros. Heaven said, "You think your portion is bad? We will show you what is bad." He lost all of his money. Now, he had to collect food door-to-door. He moaned about his bitter portion. Heaven said, "Do you think this is bad? We will show you what is bad," and he came down with tzaraas (leprosy). Due to the tzaraas, people didn't want to see him at their doorstop, afraid they might catch his disease. So he couldn't collect money anymore. He continued to moan and complain about his misfortune. Who can blame him? He was falling lower and lower. But Heaven wasn't happy with his sadness. Heaven said, "You think your situation is bad? We will show you what is bad," and he became a hunchback and couldn’t eat.
At that point, the man said, "Well, at least I'm alive. Baruch Hashem, I'm alive! Many people in my situation aren't alive anymore. Baruch Hashem, I am alive." He changed his tune. Now, instead of complaining, he was praising Hashem. Heaven said, "You think that your life situation is good? We will show you what is good," and his hunchback was healed, and he was able to eat regularly again. With much joy, he thanked Hashem for this salvation. Heaven said, "Do you think this is good? We will show you what is good!" and his tzaraas was healed. Now, he could collect door-to-door again. He was delighted with his good fortune and praised Hashem with all his heart and soul. Heaven said, "Do you think this is good? We will show you what is good." A wealthy person lent him a large sum of money, which he invested, and he became rich again.
The Rizhiner told this story to his daughter when he heard his daughter kvetch. He told her, "Don't moan, because one kvetch brings on the next one, and one moment of joy and praise to Hashem brings more happiness and goodness."
This was the error of the Jewish nation when they moaned and cried after hearing the meraglim's report. Crying and moaning bring on more sorrow, while joy results in Hashem's salvation. And there is always a reason to be happy. There is always the half-cup that is full, which we should focus on.
RABBI ELIMELECH BIDERMAN
