1 In his address of Shabbos Parshas Chaye Sarah, 5746 (1985),2 the Rebbe spoke at length of the need to increase the level of joy, “to the greatest possible extent.” He added:
By increasing the level of joy, one nullifies all that is undesirable. The reason why there has been such emphasis on joy in one’s service of G‑d in these latter generations is clear. The latter generations have suffered from an extra measure of negative influences, the effects of darkness of the exile, etc. Therefore, in order to nullify this, we should increase the level of joy connected with Torah and Mitzvos.
From this, it is understood that when we see that the negative forces are still visible in their full might (and they seem so overwhelming that a person could even point at them with his finger), this is proof that the joy which has existed until this time is not enough to crush the reality of the negative forces. Therefore, we must increase our joy even more.
This is all the more applicable when we look at the most recent period in history, where we witnessed an especially strong wave of immorality. Not only should we not be fazed by all these difficulties; on the contrary, we should increase all aspects of joy which emanate from holiness — a robust, iron-willed increase of joyous festivities....
The Rebbe continued in that talk3 as follows:
There is another aspect of this concept which must be mentioned for the sake of adding encouragement — of course, we have full trust that “the Guardian of Israel neither sleeps nor slumbers,” and will certainly guard us against all danger. Nevertheless, it is human nature, that when one sees this truth reveal itself in the natural order of things, it is much easier for him to carry on with day-to-day life, learning Torah, and performing mitzvos with joy and happiness.
There have, in fact, been such times of danger, yet as a result of the Almighty’s kindness, the threats did not materialize:
Immediately after the Six Day War, representatives were sent to Washington to inform the USA, that Israel was prepared to relinquish all the territiories won in the war. Right there we saw a miracle occur: despite Israel’s willingness to give up everything, the Arabs refused to accept what the Israelis were offering them!
Since such miracles have occured before, we see that the possibility exists for a miracle like that to happen again in our days. Therefore, each member of the Jewish people can increase his Torah study and his performance of mitzvos with contentment, joy and happiness, with the certainty that “the Guardian of Israel neither sleeps nor slumbers.”
When one Jew increases his level of Torah and mitzvos, emphasizing joy — and especially when the increase is achieved by masses of Jews — this speeds up the coming of the true and full redemption by Moshiach, as Maimonides rules: even the performing of one mitzvah alone, “could swing the balance to the side of merit, for himself and the whole world, and bring salvation and rescue for himself and all the others.”4
