JOY IN YOUR LIFE

In 1663, the celebrated British diarist Samuel Pepys (1633-1703) visited the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in London. He was shocked at what he perceived as the raucus behavior of the local Jews, who danced with abandon and generally conducted themselves in what he thought was an inappropriate fashion.

Rabbi Dunner cites the story, and – basing himself on a thought-provoking essay by the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks – offers a wonderful insight into “joy” as a unique aspect of Judaism, so central that Moses mentions it frequently in Sefer Devarim, and most frequently of all in Parshat Re’eh.