Joy lifts us up and, enables us to remain holy the whole year
Most people think happiness is a nice idea. What they don’t realize is that happiness on Yom Tov is a mitzvah like any other. The Vilna Gaon comments that it’s perhaps one of the hardest mitzvos to fulfill.
Tzemach Tzedek suggests one daven for simchah as Dovid Hamelech davened in Tehillim (86:4): “Bring joy to your servant’s soul.”
Furthermore, happiness is not all or nothing. Whatever level of happiness we achieve beyond our current state is valuable.
Bnei Yisaschar writes that the word ach (“only”) in the above pasuk teaches us that even a small amount of joy is commendable. (Rav Elimelech Biderman, Torah Wellsprings)
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