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One notable story in the Parshah involves the five daughters of Tzelofchad. They came to Moshe Rabbeinu, requesting a part of the inheritance of the Holy Land since their father left behind no sons. They argued that if they were not considered children enough to inherit the land from their father, their mother should perform Yibum (levirate marriage), which applies if a person leaves behind no children. And if they were considered children, they should inherit the Holy Land.
Moshe Rabbeinu asked Hashem for the ruling, and Hashem revealed that these daughters, and any others in similar situations without brothers, should indeed inherit the Land.
The Torah emphasizes the names of these five daughters, mentioning them three times with different arrangements. This week’s Parshah lists them as follows: Machlah, Noah, Choglah, Milkah, and Tirtzah.
Rashi and the Gemara in Bava Batra (page 119) praise these five daughters for their wisdom, knowledge of Torah exegesis, and righteousness. The laws of inheritance of the Land to daughters were revealed through these five women, who merited this due to their strong desire to inherit a part of the Land of Israel.
Reb Noson, drawing from Rebbe Nachman’s teachings, derives five major pieces of advice on how a person can work on being happy. Rebbe Nachman teaches, especially in Lesson 24, that Simcha (joy) is the key to everything in life. As the verse reads, “Ki Besimcha Teitze’u,” with joy you will come out – of anything! Whenever you’re stuck in life, the antidote, the healing, the key is working on being happy and joyous because that itself will bring positive energy and clarity to see the way out. This is why it’s so difficult to be happy; it’s one of the greatest mitzvot and one of the most difficult. Being human, we face the frailties of humanity and are challenged daily to be weighed down, apathetic, sad, worried, and depressed. These are especially prominent during the Three Weeks, a mourning period where we can feel more futility and despair.
Therefore, a person must always work on being happy. The task during the month of Av and the three weeks is to serve Hashem with a minimal amount of joy, balanced with the laws of mourning: no music, no weddings, eventually no showers, no laundry, no eating meat—all meant to help a person adapt to minimal joy while still being happy with that minimum. At the same time, we should yearn and mourn as expressions of longing for better times, the building of the Temple, and the revealing of true Jewish leadership and tzaddikim to help us overcome difficulties and bring Mashiach.
The point is that Simcha must always be present. Rebbe Nachman himself said, “Mitzvah g’dola lihyot b’simcha tamid,” it’s a big mitzvah to always be happy. It’s your life force, your connection to survival. Because of this, he emphasized that a person must work and find all types of tactics to achieve Simcha.
Reb Noson narrows them down to five major pieces of advice from Rebbe Nachman on how to be happy:
- Telling Jokes and Acting Silly: Rebbe Nachman encourages telling jokes, acting silly, and engaging in “mila dishtuta” (words of silliness). Even if these jokes and actions seem stupid or make no sense, they can eventually lead to genuine happiness. It’s important to stay in a happy mood, share jokes, and engage in silliness to put smiles on both your face and others’.
- Music, Dancing, and Clapping: Listening to music, dancing, and clapping your hands are effective ways to uplift your spirits. Music, especially with a good beat—holy music, Chassidic music, Jewish music—can inspire movement and joy. Clapping, moving your legs, and dancing to the music can significantly enhance your mood.
- Finding the Good Points: Rebbe Nachman’s lesson in Likutey Moharan, lesson 282, “Azamra,” emphasizes the importance of finding the good points in oneself and others. This practice is not easy, but it is crucial for bringing joy. People often focus on the negative aspects of themselves and others, which leads to feelings of inadequacy and negativity. However, by actively seeking and acknowledging the good points, you can sing to the Lord with the little good that you find. This positive focus is essential for maintaining happiness.
- Giving Thanks to Hashem: Expressing gratitude for all the good that Hashem has done for you is another key to happiness. Beyond finding good points, adopting a mindset of thankfulness helps shift your perspective to one of joy and appreciation. Regularly giving thanks for all the good in your life, reinforces a positive outlook.
- Looking at the Long Term: Focusing on the ultimate good and the final outcome provides comfort and reassurance. Knowing that Hashem’s Will will ultimately prevail, that all efforts for good will be rewarded, and that all evil will be punished helps alleviate present worries and sadness. Rebbe Nachman taught that understanding this long-term perspective allows you to maintain hope and joy, even in difficult times. For instance, if a person loses a family member, experiences illness, divorce, or other hardships, remembering that everything will work out in the end can help one to stay positive.
These five pieces of advice—telling jokes, engaging in music and dance, finding good points, giving thanks, and looking at the long term—are essential tools for activating and maintaining Simcha. While it’s not always easy, Rebbe Nachman emphasized that working on being happy is crucial for a fulfilling and joyful life.
So, going back to the five daughters of Tzelofchad, we can see that their names are interestingly associated with joy. Let’s break it down:
- Machlah: This name is connected to the word “Machol,” which means a circular dance, like a Hora. Machlah signifies dancing and joy. Additionally, it relates to “Mechila,” which means forgiveness. In the Gemara, there’s a concept that when a person repents out of joy and love, their sins are transformed into merits. Thus, Machlah represents both dancing and forgiveness achieved through joy.
- Noah: This name comes from the root “Lehitno’ea,” which means movement. To be happy, one must engage in activities like dancing and clapping hands. Movement helps to get into a positive mood, reflecting the essence of Noah.
- Choglah: This name has a few interpretations. One interpretation is that it refers to a type of bird that moves in a circular pattern. The circle represents joy, continuity, and something unbreakable. In Judaism, joy from mitzvot is eternal and cannot be taken away. Choglah symbolizes this everlasting joy and the happiness that comes from our connection to God.
- Milkah: This name contains “melech,” which means king. It signifies the joy of being connected with the King, Hashem. Being happy about this connection is central to the essence of Milkah.
- Tirtzah: This name means a few things. “Ratz” means to run, and it also signifies will or desire. When Yaakov Avinu woke up from his dream of the ladder, he walked quickly because he was filled with confidence and joy from Hashem’s promise. Similarly, when a person is happy, they have more energy and are quick to act. Happiness fuels the desire to do good and help others.
These names collectively highlight different aspects of joy and how it influences our actions and attitudes. Joy in Judaism is deeply rooted and eternal, influencing forgiveness, movement, continuity, connection with the Divine, and a proactive, giving spirit.
The simcha of these five daughters led them to be recognized for their wisdom, as quoted by Rashi from the Gemara. They were described as chachmaniyot (wise), darshaniyot (interpreters of the Torah), and tzidkaniyot (righteous).
- Chachmaniyot: They were wise because they waited for the right moment to ask Moshe Rabbeinu their question. They waited 40 years until the laws of inheriting the land were taught, demonstrating their patience and wisdom.
- Darshaniyot: They were interpreters because they posed a profound question. Their question, “If we are not considered children, our mother should perform Yibum; if we are, then we should inherit the land,” was insightful and led to a new interpretation being written into the Torah.
- Tzidkaniyot: They were righteous because they waited to marry for 40 years until they received Moshe Rabbeinu’s answer. The older daughters were over 40, but they waited to marry someone from their tribe as instructed. Despite the known medical belief that women who marry after 40 cannot bear children, they had miracles due to their righteousness and were able to reproduce.
Thus, the daughters of Tzelofchad are celebrated for their wisdom, interpretive skills, and righteousness, all driven by their joyful spirits.
Rebbe Nachman says that when a person has simcha (joy), they reach the level of Chochmah (wisdom). This Chochmah leads to the level of Drash, which is even higher. Chochmah is just knowledge, but Drash, meaning to seek out more, represents a higher level of intellect. Once a person reaches the highest level of Lidrosh (to seek out), the next level is Tsidkaniyut (righteousness). Righteousness is about being good to others.
The five daughters of Tzelofchad waited to marry because they knew they might have to marry within their tribe. If they had married earlier and not waited to ask Moshe Rabbeinu, they could have married someone from another tribe, causing their tribe’s portion of the land to be lost. By waiting, they ensured righteousness with their fellow tribe members. This demonstrates that Tzidkut, righteousness in relation to others, surpasses both Chochmah and Drashah.
These daughters inherited their lot due to their simcha, as reflected in their names. Their desire to inherit the Land of Israel was also driven by joy. Reb Noson explains that Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel) epitomizes joy. It is a land of simcha because it hosts the Beit HaMikdash (Temple) in Yerushalayim, where atonement for sins occurs. This atonement, and the connection to G-d in the Beit HaMikdash, brings the greatest joy. The joy of the Beit HaMikdash spreads across the whole Land of Israel, making it a land of happiness. This is why the five daughters wanted to inherit it.
The number five itself is significant. In Hebrew, the number five corresponds to the letter “Heh.” When people laugh, they often say “Ha, Ha, Ha,” which sounds like “Heh.” This letter is associated with laughter and joy. The “five” daughters of Tzelofchad, represented by the number five, symbolize simcha.
We should learn from the daughters of Tzelofchad to embrace happiness. Through simcha, we can inherit the Holy Land. Many verses in the prophecies connect returning to Eretz Yisrael with joy. May we be consoled during these Three Weeks, and may Hashem replace mourning with glory. May we all return to the Holy Land with joy, Bimeheira Beyameinu, Amen.
This article also appears on the BRI breslov.org website: https://breslov.org/the-attitudes-of-joy/
For a video presentation of these ideas: https://youtu.be/WQNjBJuN-dM
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