“Because you did not serve the L-rd your G-d with joy and with gladness of heart” (Devarim 28:47)
“One of the most widespread misconceptions is that occupying oneself with mussar causes sadness as one who constantly looks at his inner flaws must be far from happiness. Being near the mashgiach [Rav Yerucham Levovitz] it was impossible to make that mistake. Mussar and joy were bound together in his life.
“There were some masters of mussar who feared that excessive joy and dancing on Simchas Torah might lead to rowdiness. Not so my rabbi and master. We will never forget Simchas Torah with him.
“When he finished speaking he came down from before the Aron Kodesh and started dancing until all eyes were flowing with tears overwhelmed with holy emotion. He sang and danced with his hands thrown up to the Heavens and his students crowded below danced with him. And how awesome was the sight of hundreds of his students some of them great men dancing and singing in tears prompting the Rav to say: ‘I don’t know which the Ribono shel Olam prefers our Yom Kippur or our Simchas Torah.’ ” (Adam B’Yakar p. 27 where Rav Shlomo Wolbe describes his rav the mashgiach of Mir Rav Yerucham Levovitz)
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