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As we begin the school year and watch our children take another step forward in their development, many parents ponder their children’s future. What are our hopes and dreams for them as they move from childhood toward adulthood?
One hope that many parents share for their children is that they should be happy. Certainly, at Kohelet, we aim to create a happy environment in which children enjoy learning, growing and connecting with the Torah and with our community.
Given this, it is worth pausing for a moment to reflect on the meaning of happiness.
In the Torah, simcha — happiness — is discussed several times. In almost every instance (the two or three exceptions are very interesting) simcha is mentioned in conjunction with being lifnei Hashem — before God.
In this week’s parsha, Re’eh, there are three examples. One is the simcha from being in the Beit Hamikdash, before God. The second is the simcha one experiences when bringing ma’aser — tithes — to the Beit Hamikdash and, again, being before God. And the third is the simcha of holidays that one experiences when making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the holiday and, once again, being before God.
Rav Soloveitchik explained that these examples define the nature of happiness. Happiness is the emotional experience of being in the presence of God. True happiness does not come from success or pleasures or entertainment. True happiness comes from experiencing the awesomeness of God directly.
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