“Go eat choice foods and drink sweet drinks... for the day is holy to our G-d” (Nechemiah 8:10)
One Friday afternoon, just three hours before Shabbos, I found happiness. Literally.
I had walked into the local Whole Foods in Baltimore to pick up a few groceries and buy flowers for my wife and mother-in-law. As I approached the cashier, she greeted me with a warm smile and I smiled back. And then I noticed something unusual: her name tag. It said Happiness.
At first, I assumed it was some sort of branding strategy; maybe a company initiative encouraging positivity. But when I glanced over at the cashier in the next lane, her name tag read “Donna.” That’s when it clicked.
I looked back and asked, “Excuse me... is Happiness really your name?” She smiled again and said, “Yes, it is.” Without missing a beat, I said, “I’ve been looking for you my entire life.”
She burst out laughing. And in that moment, something struck me. Maybe that’s not just a joke; maybe that’s the truth. We’re all searching for happiness, but we often look for it in the wrong places.
There is a halachic discussion as to whether simcha, joy, is an actual obligation on Rosh Hashanah (see Rambam, Hilchos Megillah V’Chanukah 3:6; Mishnah Berurah 597:1). Unlike Sukkos or Pesach, where “V’samachta b’chagecha—And you shall rejoice on your festival” is a clear commandment, Rosh Hashanah seems to lean more toward awe and judgment. And yet, the book of Nechemiah tells us that the people were indeed commanded to rejoice on Rosh Hashanah (Nechemiah 8:10). So where does that joy come from?
Rabbi Simcha Zissel Ziv, the Alter of Kelm, offers a profound answer. “Who are the happiest beings in the universe?” he asks. The angels, he explains. They are flawless and they serve Hashem all day, without distraction, without sin. And moreover, what is the greatest pleasure imaginable? To be close to Hashem. That’s the core of our eternal reward in Olam Haba.
With that in mind, think about Avraham Avinu. After his bris milah, he sits in the heat of the day, and Hashem Himself comes to visit him (Bereishis 18:1). Imagine being in direct communion with the Divine, and yet, when three guests approach—strangers, perhaps idolaters—Avraham turns to Hashem and says, “Please wait; I have guests to care for.” Why would he do that?
The Alter of Kelm explains that as incredible as it is to be with Hashem, doing His will—fulfilling His commandments—is an even greater pleasure. Avraham knew that Hashem desires chesed, and so he chose to express his love through action. And Hashem agreed.
This is the happiness of Rosh Hashanah. It is not the happiness of easy living or temporary comfort, but the deep joy that comes from living a life of meaning. Rosh Hashanah is the day we recommit to living for something greater than ourselves. We proclaim Hashem as our King and we resolve to do His will, even when life is confusing, even when the path is hard.
And that, too, is hinted at in the words of the prophet Yirmiyahu: “So says Hashem: I remember the kindness of your youth, the love of your bridal days; how you followed Me into the wilderness, into an unsown land” (Yirmiyahu 2:2).
It wasn’t just loyalty. It was love. The Jewish people followed Hashem into the unknown, without guarantees, without comfort. It was just trust.
But this verse isn’t just about the past. It’s about us. Every one of us has a midbar, a wilderness, in our lives, which carries uncertainty, pain, loneliness or fear. And Hashem is asking: “Will you follow Me even there? Will you stay loyal when it’s uncomfortable? Will you choose commitment over convenience?”
That is the joy of Rosh Hashanah. It is the joy of knowing that no matter where we are, we can bring meaning into our lives by choosing Hashem. We can find happiness not in having everything, but in being something—being His.
So yes, I found Happiness one Friday in Whole Foods. But the truth is, I’ve been searching for it my whole life, and maybe so have you. But now I know, happiness isn’t just a name on a name tag. It’s the name of a life lived with loyalty, purpose, and connection to Hashem.
This Rosh Hashanah, may we all find that kind of happiness.
