Service and Happiness

Although most work at one level or another can contribute to happiness by giving you a sense of improvement and fulfillment, working for G-d, that is doing mitzvahs, has a much more profound effect. When you work for Him, you are connecting to the most Wonderful Power in the universe, so it fills you with joy and power. There's a unique verse in this week's parsha that says all the punishments from G-d will happen on account of the fact that we didn't serve G-d with happiness. How can it be that G-d is so particular as to punish us because we are not happy? However, this is a misreading of the verse. The verse really means "on account of the fact that we didn't serve, (and the proof that we didn't serve) is that it is without happiness. For had we served we would have been happy. "Because you did not serve HaShem your G-d, amid gladness and goodness of heart." Deuteronomy 28:47, from this week's Torah portion, Ki Tavo, Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8

Based on Rabbi Akiva Tatz