JOY CONTINUED

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

Mazal Tov Shmuel and Rivky on your wedding anniversary tonight. Funnily enough, Chava was listening to some music when I came home tonight and I said to her, that music reminds me of Rivky's chassana, because it was the main music playing with the wedding video. Anyway wishing you both many more happy years together, with much achievement.

And while we are with the Levys, another Mazal Tov to Rivky for qualifying in her accounting! Amazing effort and achievement Rivky after persisting at it for many years. You have proved the point that success comes to those who carry on where most would give up. And I am sure Shmuel played a part with the success!

Mazal Tov also to Avi and Penina on their upcoming anniversary next week. Wishing you also much happiness, success and achievement together.

Mazal tov to Chana Lieba on your upcoming birthday next week. Wishing you a happy year with many simchos.

Mazal Tov Devorah Leah for the wedding on Sunday of your sister Rivka to our nephew Mendel Sarfati in NY. Wishing every one safe flights and a wonderful Simcha.

Mazal Tov again to Pesach, who moved his business to a new site right near Stamford Hill. Chava and I took a walk there this week, and we were really most impressed of what you have achieved Pesach. Michayil el chayil!

BH so many simchos!

And even though Purim has passed, it is still Adar, and so we still have the theme of JOY.

And joy has many facets.

I saw an extract from a sicha of The Rebbe this week (Toras Menachem) which I found interesting, as follows:

A chasid of the Alte Rebbe once complained that he has a lot of foreign thoughts that disturb him.

The Alte Rebbe replied 'They gather in empty space!'

This means that such thoughts come when the mind is not filled with thoughts of Torah and mitzvos.

The Rebbe commented, that the same is true of SIMCHA - if a person does not have JOY IN FULFILLING MITZVOS, then his happiness will be expressed in other things.....

In another extract (also from Toras Menachem) the Rebbe said that one should make a point of being joyful even from mundane matters (if that is what makes him happy in his current state)

Because once a person is in a state of simcha, he will be able to draw himself towards SIMCHA SHEL MITZVA.

But the former simcha does not include holelus (wild frivolity), because even if a person will feel cheerful during that moment, he will regret it later, and this will not bring simcha.....

Wishing everyone a happy Shabbos