That popular little ditty, "Don't Worry, Be Happy!" might be reversed on Jewish Festivals, when we're commanded, "Be happy - don't worry!"



Though each of the Shalosh R'galim contains the mitzva of Simchat Yom Tov, rejoicing on the Chag, the holiday par excellence for this concept is Sukkot. On this Chag, not only are we told "V'samachta b'chagecha," be happy on your festival, we are emphatically ordered "V'hayita ach sameach," we must be only happy!



Now I ask you, how can someone - even G-d - demand that we feel joy, feel happy? Isn't it a question of our own mood, our own state of mind? (I'm reminded of my days as an NCSY youth advisor, when I would tell the kids, "We will now have 15 minutes of spontaneous dancing!")



Our rabbis suggest that Hashem is trying to emphasize how elated and grateful we should feel at this season. After all, we have passed through Yom Kippur and, hopefully, our sins have been forgiven. We have a new lease on life. It is Chag Ha-asif, a time to "gather in" our bounty. What could be bad - how dare you be sad?



I want to tell you that I now find another, very different approach to "v'hayita ach sameach."



In many times and places in our history, we Jews have endured tremendous struggle and suffering. We may have faced war or pogrom, poverty or exile. Logically speaking, we may have found little to rejoice over. But we were not allowed to give up hope, not permitted to give in to despair. Hashem, in His wisdom, commanded us to be happy, in a sense to force ourselves, against our instincts, to celebrate and put on a happy face.



As a friend of ours sometimes says, "You're not in the mood? Then get in the mood!" Believe me when I tell you that sometimes, alas, we need a Divine directive to be happy; otherwise, we would embrace depression.



This also explains the idea of the Sukkah, the humble, cramped little hut we live in for seven days. It is as if G-d says, "Even though your dwelling may be small and simple - ?no frills? - you can still be happy in it." Indeed, it is exactly when we rejoice in Hashem and not in our material possessions that we experience true joy, a joy of the neshama that no one can ever take away

from us.



I hope you feel like celebrating this Sukkot. But even if you don't, Mister (or Mrs.), do it anyway - that's an order!