All aspects of the Yom Tov of Sukkos contain an emphasis on joy. Joy is a pnimiyus concept, but we must also fulfill simchah on an outer level. It must be evident that a person is joyful. The masters of mussar would say that a person who walks around crestfallen constitutes a pitfall in the public domain—for he brings down not only himself, but also others with whom he comes in contact.
True joy bursts outwards. When a person is joyful, he dances, and his joy is clear to all. A joyful person performs even his pnimiyus avodah in a way that it spills over to the outside. When a person performs mitzvos dryly, we don’t see his feelings on the outside. But when he fulfills a mitzvah, dances with joy, and gives thanks to the Ribbono shel Olam, he proclaims the Presence of the Ribbono shel Olam in the world. With this he fulfills גבורותיו, האדם לבני להודיע to publicize the goodness of the Aibishter. With this, he channels the chessed of Avraham Avinu whose ultimate purpose was to publicize the existence of Hashem to one and all.
Drawing Yeshuos Through Joy
The tzaddikim have taught us that simchah brings a shefah of yeshuos. It has the power to bring salvation for many of our ills—and the reason is because through joy, one has proclaimed the existence of Hashem in the world. Someone who walks around crestfallen is saying in so many words that he has complaints against the Ribbono shel Olam. But if he is joyful, he proclaims that the Aibishter is good.
With this we can perhaps understand why sometimes tzaddikim suffer, R”l. Perhaps it is because Hashem wants us to see a Yid who is joyful and content despite his challenges. Through his joy, he proclaims to all that there is a Ribbono shel Olam and that He is good.
