HOLINESS AND LAUGHTER

Dear Family,

I hope everyone is well.

Mazal Tov to the Bongarts on the engagement of their daughter to Moishe Golomb from London. The Bongarts are a close friend of our Family, and as far as I remember have attended every one of our major simchos, hosted us on many occasions in NY, made engagement lechaims, sheva brochos etc. And we are also close to the Golombs in London. Wishing the couple that their wedding should be at a shaah tovah umatzlachas, and they should build a binyan adei ad together, and give much nachas to their parents.

We (Shmuel Levy, Pesach, Shmuly and I) have just returned from a most memorable trip to NY for the Kinus (gathering) HaShluchim 2019

We were guests, and there were 5800 shluchim plus guests at the banquet on Sunday evening, all in one venue BH!

This was a royal treat, and I think is unique in the world.

Our trip started as soon as we arrived, with the deeply HOLY EXPERIENCE of visiting and praying at the Ohel ('Resting Place') of the Rebbe and Frierdike Rebbe, and ending with the huge banquet of dining, singing, Divrei Torah, dancing, socialising etc etc, FULL OF JOY with 5800 people BH.

In between I also had the opportunity to promote the Rambam books at the Book Fair connected to the Kinus etc.

This experience very much reflects a Dvar Torah I saw in this week's Sedra, Toldos.

It is well known that Yitzchak's nature was gvura which reflects discipline, FEAR OF HEAVEN etc.

And his name means LAUGHTER.

How do these 2 apparent opposites come together?

In the Sedra Yitzchak was locating and digging wells, and finding water.

And the Philistines were trying to steal these.

The explanation given by The Rebbe is as follows:

The Philistines represent unrestrained levity and mindless frivolity for its own sake.

This was the opposite of Avraham and Yitzchok, who personified the joy that comes from feeling close to Hashem.

So the Philistines tried to appropriate the wellsprings of Holy joy, erroneously claiming that the service of G-d is serious and solemn, which cannot tolerate laughter and joy.

Their view was that happiness, joy and laughter can only be used for empty levity and scoffing.

But, as is demonstrated over and over in our Jewish Nation, and especially at the abovementioned Kinus, the highest levels of Holiness can and are, associated with the highest levels of joy and laughter.

Gut Shabbos to alll