“Joy”

One of the most moving experiences of my year studying at HUC in Israel came during the public celebration of Simchat Torah - the joy of the Torah. I remember being squeezed in the huge crowd that gathered in the park. There was really no dancing with the Torahs because it was almost impossible even to move.

At first, it reminded me of New Years Eve in Times Square. You always see huge crowds of revelers - people happy (or looking for an excuse) to be celebrating the new year. But when everyone in that park in Jerusalem began singing "Am Yisraeil Chai" - "the people of Israel live" I was overcome by emotion; overcome with joy. Because we all know that this is not something we've been able to take for granted. On the contrary, it is a miracle of tenacity and faith that the Jewish people have survived for so many centuries.

I usually find that large crowds make me claustrophobic, nervous and uncomfortable. But instead, there was such joy in standing literally shoulder to shoulder with so many Jews celebrating in the Holy City with our most prized possession, the Torah. It was not a giddy scene. It was an exultant moment that resulted from years of struggle, hardship and persistence. It was truly a miracle that we were all standing there celebrating together.

For me, joy and happiness are two very different emotions. Happiness is pleasant and fun, but often momentary and superficial. Joy arises out of some kind of effort: reaching a goal or overcoming adversity. Joy is profound and enduring.

Some people say that money can't buy happiness. Of course it can. Money can buy new jewelry, a nice dinner at a restaurant, a vacation, or a party. These are certainly enjoyable things. But for me, they are not really joy-full things.

When I buy flowers at the store, they bring me happiness. But after digging a bed for my dahlia garden, planting and feeding the bulbs, giving them water, mulching the bed, and staking the plants as they grow - those flowers bring me joy. They are not only beautiful, but they represent the joy and satisfaction of accomplishment.

There is happiness in hanging out with friends. But joy is present in a significant relationship when two people have taken the time to understand, respect and appreciate each other. Every important friendship I've had has taken on new depth after we've had a disagreement or inadvertently caused each other pain, and have made the commitment of time and energy necessary to work through the problem.

Two of my most joyful moments were receiving my doctoral degree and being invested as a cantor. The doctorate represented years of study, academic and professional risk-taking, and just plain tenacity (or stubbornness, as some of those who know me well might say). Cantorial investiture was a much more personal sacrifice, a labor of love, and a huge leap of faith. Putting on that purple doctoral robe in Seattle, and standing before the open ark of Temple Emanuel in New York City were moments of great awe and indescribable joy.

Joy often appears in life's small moments. There is joy in earning the smile of a small child. There is joy in a letter or telephone call from a friend you thought you'd lost touch with. And joy often emerges from life's weightier moments. There is joy in leaving the hospital or going out of the house for the first time after a long illness. After a tragedy, there is joy in the awareness of the gift of being surrounded by people who love and care about you.

And there is gratitude. Gratitude is joy's partner.

I try never to take joyful moments for granted. When struggle becomes accomplishment, I am grateful. When an unexpected hand brings comfort in a difficult moment, I am moved by joy and gratitude.

When the light of hope breaks through overwhelming darkness, I give thanks from the depths of my being. In this darkest of seasons, we light candles against the early nightfall. The candles remind us of the joyous triumph of our ancestors against those who would bring us harm. For eight nights, we give thanks for our freedom as Jews today. For eight nights, we kindle light and see in its glow the faces of our loved ones. And we are filled with joy and gratitude.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe for giving us life, for sustaining us, and for allowing us to reach this season in joy and gratitude.

B’shalom,
Andrew Bernard
Cantor