There is a second kind of joy ✌️that results from our faith in G-d. This is the joy that we receive because we know we’ve brought *G-d* to joy!
What gives God great joy and pleasure 🤔❔
In general, people get a kick out of things that are unexpected or novel 💥- out of the ordinary.
The Maggid of Mezritch, teacher of the Alter Rebbe, provided the following analogy:
There was once a king 🤴🏼who was looking for something that would amuse him. His servants brought before him a parrot 🦜 that could talk. The king really enjoyed the parrot 😍. Every day, the king would talk with it and play with it, laughing in surprise at the things it said 🤣😂😅.
One of the king’s ministers 🥸 couldn’t understand what the big deal was with the bird. He said to the king, “Your majesty, this parrot is speaking nonsense! Why do you find him so amusing? Wouldn’t it be better to summon your wise men🕵️♂️ and advisors 🦹♂️🧛🏼♂️🦸🏻♂️ to hear some sensible words of wisdom❔”
The king laughed.
“Don't you understand? There’s nothing particularly fascinating or entertaining about people talking 🗣️🗣️🗣️. A parrot 🦜 talking is unique 💥 and that's why it gives me pleasure!”
G-d has countless angels that devotedly serve Him... However, they live in the upper spiritual worlds where G-d’s light and energy shines openly. Therefore, it is only natural that they would worship and believe in G-d.
G-d receives great pleasure specifically ☝️ from the “talking parrot”... from human beings 🕴🏻 like us, made from flesh and blood 🫀🫁🧠 who live in a world where holiness is hidden 🌑, and yet - they “chirp” faith and discover G-dliness even in this lowly world.
This is unexpected! It’s out of the ordinary 😊and it brings G-d so much pleasure!
In fact, it’s exactly what G-d wishes for:
That He feel welcome and comfortable and at home precisely down here in this lowly physical world 🌍.
This knowledge that we bring God pleasure and joy brings *us* double joy😁😁, too!
When you actively live with faith in Him, you fulfill the purpose 🎯 for which G-d created you and all the worlds 🪐: To bring awareness of G-d here, into the world.
This is such a joyful and pleasurable thing 🤍. It’s like a child 👦 who is so excited to do something for his father that he knows will make his father 👨 👦 very happy and give him pleasure.
There is an especially strong joy and pleasure that G-d receives from those who live outside of the Land of Israel and nevertheless, serve G-d with faith and love. _*For the air of all the lands outside of Israel is impure 🕍🏨💒🕌*_ and it is more difficult to connect with G-d from there.
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King David wrote in Psalms, _*Let Israel rejoice with their Creator*_
Why should Jews be happy?
What’s there to be so excited about?
_*Meaning, everyone Jewish should rejoice together with G-d ✨ Who is ✨ecstatic ✨ about having a dwelling place down here in this lowly world 🪐.*_
Why does the verse say _*Their Creator *_ - plural? Why not in the singular tense, since it refers to the entire nation as one singular entity?
This physical world is called a “Public Space” 👬🏻👭🏻👬🏻 where no one is in charge, and “Separate Mountain Peaks ⛰️⛰️⛰, where each mountain independently soars into the sky, intent on proving its own majesty.
Both these terms use plural tenses. It’s not an accident. The reality of this world is _separation_, where there are many different kinds of things, each seemingly operating independently from one another.
By revealing G-d’s presence in this world, all these disparate things become unified 🙏, turning over this world into a private dwelling place for G-d.
