NEW: The Secret to Happiness

Simchas Hachaim Publishing is excited to announce the release of The Secret to Happiness, by Rabbi Avigdor Miller

The Secret to Happiness is the latest volume in the popular Pocketful of Simcha series, available in Jewish book stores everywhere or from SimchasHachaim.com for just $3. Generous discounts are available on bulk orders directly from Simchas Hachaim.

Excerpt:

The Torah’s guide to having fun

In Iyov (Job), it states “Adam l’amol yulad — A man is born for suffering.” Now don’t get me wrong: a man is not born for suffering. A man is born to eat every day and to breathe air every day and to enjoy this world.

“Ha’adam lo nivra elah l’hisaneig al Hashem,” the Mesilas Yesharim says: a man was created only for the purpose of enjoying Hashem. My rebbe put a period after the word hisaneig: “Ha’adam lo nivra elah l’hisaneig — A man was created only for the purpose of enjoying.” The Mesilas Yesharim adds two words, al Hashem, and it spoils the whole fun.

That’s what we think. In reality he’s increasing the fun. Hashem made man in order to make him happy. We are here in this world for fun (you can quote me, because it’s the Mesilas Yesharim!). L’hisaneig means fun. Not foolish, meaningless fun: “Acharis simcha tuga — The end of [that kind of] fun is nothing but sadness” (Mishlay). If fun means sitting down to eat a big meal, so you know what happens as a result: Alka-Seltzer. If fun means martinis, one after the other: headaches next morning. All this fun that the foolish world is pursuing ends up in sadness.

If fun means even a kosher movie (all the movies are as treif as can be, but let’s say there can be a kosher one) finally it comes to an end, the lights go out, and you have to leave, and you see it’s nothing but imagination, false pictures on the screen. All the characters are untrue. When you go out in the dismal street and you face reality, it’s a big letdown.

But there is happiness in this world, there is true happiness, and Hashem gave it to us for a purpose. Of course nothing can be achieved without studying. If you want to enjoy Olam Hazeh (this world) you have to make a career of it. You have to study Mussar books in order to be happy in this world. The Chovos Halevavos is the doorway to true happiness in this world, as queer as it may seem to some people.

Therefore Hashem made this world, and He told us “ha’adam lo nivra elah l’hisaneig,” we’re here to be happy. Only Hashem is not stingy, and instead of giving us a puny, little form of happiness, He desires to give us the greatest of all kinds of joy. That’s why the words were added: “ha’adam lo nivra elah l’hisaneig al Hashem.” The true happiness is to find joy in Hashem.

You can find it in this world, the Mesilas Yesharim says, and this will be the preface to the very great happiness of enjoying Hashem in the world to come.