Based on Likutey Halakhot, Eruvei Techumin 4:11
"We will do and we will listen" (Exodus 24:7).
That was the pledge we gave when we were asked if we wanted to
accept God's Torah. One of the meanings of this pledge, Rebbe
Nachman teaches, is that we constantly try to advance and
enhance our Jewishness; doing more, focusing more, being more
sincere and honest.
A crucial element to the "more, more, more" is laughing a
little. Life in the Big Exile is not always so easy: somebody's
hurting, somebody's a little short this month, someone's doing
some serious sinning. Could be you, could be the next Jew—in
many ways its all of us, the body Jewish.
This exile business is all so taxing and tiring. Who can think
straight and make "improving Jewishness" a priority?
That's why you have to laugh. The Talmud (Menachot 99b) teaches
that sometimes you need to take a break, a recess, so that you
don't break. To get further up Mount Sinai, to get that "do and
listen" to the next level, you've got to climb down once in
awhile and recharge. |