10 February 2025 · A sentence from the teachings of Rav Kook

To Be Joyful

„Sadness is hateful, because it stems from the most corrupted source among the views and the feelings.”From Shemonah Kevatzim, III, 51

Sadness is the foundation of evil. It is not a sin, but it lowers a person to a place to which no sin can lower him.

When we give up on ourselves, despairing, the ability to repair disappears. This is the reason why this trait is so problematic and can lead a person to the lowest places. The solution is joy – it is easy to say, but part of the matter is to work in such a way that joy, even forced joy, removes the sadness. Today, there are many studies that show how even fake smiles and forced laughter release chemicals in the human brain and body.

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From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.