Happiness Tips from Our Daily Davening

 Today is Rosh Chodesh Adar Rishon. This year there are two Adar’s on the Jewish calendar. The Mishna states that “When Adar begins we increase our joy.” We might assume that in a leap year with two Adar’s this Talmudic statement only applies the the second Adar, the Adar in which we celebrate the very joyous holiday of Purim. However, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, among others, insists that the imperative to increase our joy applies to both months of Adar. Happiness can refer to so many expressions, with just as many different causes. What does Jewish tradition mean when it talks about happiness? Our daily recitation of Az Yashi, the Song at the Sea, in Pesukei D’Zimra provides us with some insight and some direction.

In Shulchan Aruch Siman 51, the Mishnah Berura quotes a passage from the Zohar: “that when Shirat Hayam is recited daily, it should be recited B’Simcha, with joy, and one should imagine as if s/he is actually crossing the Yam Suf at that moment.” From this Zohar we learn that we are supposed to be happy when we recite Shirat Hayam- BC THE JEWS WERE HAPPY WHEN THEY ORIGINALLY RECITED IT.

Research has shown that three of the most important qualities that happy people possess are: a feeling of control over one’s life, a sense of optimism, and faith/ religion- a sense of purpose greater than themselves. At the Splitting of the Yam Suf the Pasuk tells us:

                “Vayar Yisrael et Mitzrayim met al sefat Hayam.”

For the first time in over two centuries, Bnai Yisrael were not slaves to a human master. At the moment that they saw the Egyptians drown, they realized that they were now in control of their own destiny. Though this may seem a little scary at first, possessing both free will and agency to act are key ingredients in happiness.

“Vayaaminu BaHashem ubeMoshe Avdo”: In addition to their newfound sense of agency and responsibility, the Jews had Emunah, faith. They had faith in Hashem, ie a commitment to a higher purpose and to religion; as well as faith in themselves that with the help of G-d they could overcome any obstacles in their way.

 Another contributing factor to happiness is being active: challenging ourselves to try new things and to do things that we love. Happiness is often a pleasant side effect to pursuing other activities: whether it is a job, a hobby or a volunteer opportunity. Inactivity and too much leisure can be impediments to happiness.

This seems to be Hashem’a advice to Bnei Yisrael before they even get to Yam Suf:

“Ma Tizak Elai- Daber El Bnei Ysirael Vayisau-“G-d tells Moshe to convey to the people that inactivity will bring anxiety and a feeling of hopelessness. But getting up and going, doing something, in tandem with a feeling of control, optimism and faith in G-d, will lead to success.

A fifth and final factor in achieving happiness is to cultivate relationships. The more quality relationships a person has, the more likely h/she is to be happy. At the Sea, Bnai Yisrael began to appreciate these relationships. They respond with Shira- song. Song only works when people are relating to one another: singing their parts, and playing their instruments together to create beautiful music.

When we put all of these factors together, we begin to map out the components of happiness and see areas of focus for us as we enter the month of Adar. Let us appreciate the control and agency that we execute in our lives. Let us be optimistic, Let us strengthen our faith in Hashem and in ourselves. Let us invest, and never take for granted, our relationships; and let us seek opportunities to develop new relationships. At the Red Sea we learned the key ingredients to happiness. Let us recommit to these lessons every day of our lives and especially during the months of Adar.