You shall not desecrate the My Holy Name but I shall be sanctified among Bnei Yisrael. I am Hashem who makes you holy. (Vayikra 22:32)

From the above quoted verse, we are obligated to give up our lives to avoid desecrating Hashem and are commanded to praise Hashem.

Rav Desser writes about the time when he was in the yeshiva of Kelm in the early 1900s stating the enjoyment of Simchas Torah. The young men in the yeshiva danced in the street with the community while singing “Ashrenu Mah Tov Chelkanu” (how fortunate are we!). Forty years later, the yeshiva’s young men were gathered together again in the street, but unfortunately, this time it was not for Simchas Torah. It was to be killed by the evil people. The strange thing is that this time, the Jews still sang the same song “Ashrenu Mah Tov Chelkanu” with the same energy and enthusiasm. How could they do this?

Ten years ago, I needed to go travel away from my family for 4 weeks for business. My happiest moment was the last day as I was traveling home. I was so excited to be able to see my wife and son (who was a year and a half old at that time) again. When I walked in the front door and saw them again, I had so much joy!

The same is with our Neshama (soul). We lived with the Shechina (G-d’s Presence) before we were born, but were forced down to this earth. If we accomplish our goals properly, after we die, we return to the Shechina. It is like the joy of coming home after a long vacation! Who wouldn’t be happy to come home! This is what the men of Kelm realized – that is how they could praise Hashem even in what looked to be a tough moment. It was because they had happiness that they would be returning home.

A friend of mine, Neal B. Finkelstein, recently wrote a book entitled “If I Only Knew They Had Chocolate Chip Cookies In Heaven”. It is an excellent book (to buy it, go to www.createspace.com/3488854) and contains a great quote. “When you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. Live your life so that when you die, the world cries and you rejoice.” If we live our lives properly, not only will life be joyful, but death will be too.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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