Leah conceived and bore a son (Bereshis 29:32)

This parsha is full of babies being born. Eleven of Yaakov’s twelve sons and at least one daughter (our Sages teach us that twin daughters were born with each son) are born. So much happiness!

But why do babies bring happiness? This past Shabbos, I was walking to a kiddush that a friend made for his new baby girl and I began thinking… in Koheles, it states that better is the day of death than the day of birth. The explanation of this verse is that a person’s life is like a boat leaving for a voyage. When a boat leaves the port, there is some fear because no one knows if the trip will be successful or not. At the end of the journey, though, when the boat returns from its mission, everyone is excited. This is why there is more happiness at death than at birth. At birth, we don’t know what a person will accomplish, but at death, we know what he accomplished. So, why are we happy at the birth of a child and sad at a funeral?

I think the answer can be seen from something we do during Yom Kippur davening. Every day during the year, we recite Shema and then silently say the line Baruch Shem Kavod. On Yom Kippur, though, we recite Baruch Shem Kavod aloud. The reason given is because on Yom Kippur we are like angels, who constantly say Baruch Shem Kavod aloud.

We recite Shema during Maariv and Shacharis. The question is asked – the first time we say Shema and Baruch Shem Kavod aloud is only a short time after Yom Kippur has begun. We have been fasting for maybe an hour or two. We still have the taste of our dinner in our mouths. We have barely begun to reach holiness. Therefore, why do we say Baruch Shem Kavod aloud at this time? Wouldn’t it be better if we said Baruch Shem Kavod aloud immediately after Yom Kippur is over at Maariv? At that time, we have spent a full day in holiness. The Maariv right after Yom Kippur comes after our 25 hours of fasting. We have reached extremely high levels in our spirituality. So, why do we say Baruch Shem Kavod aloud on Yom Kippur night instead of the next night?

The answer given is you need to look at the direction a person is going. On the night of Yom Kippur, although the fast has just begun, the person is moving in a direction of growth. Over the next day, the person will be spiritually growing. At the end of Yom Kippur, although a person reached a great level and hopefully has changed at least a little, he is going back to a regular day. We say Baruch Shem Kavod aloud on Yom Kippur, because we are moving in an upwards direction. That is what greatness is.

I think this is why we celebrate at the birth of a baby and mourn at a funeral. It depends on the direction a person is headed. When a baby is born, the baby only has one direction he can go — and that is growing. When a person passes away, he can no longer grow.

May we all work on spiritual growth because that is the true happiness and greatness of a person.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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