What Makes You Happy?

Israel ranks among the top five happiest countries in the world, according to the UN-sponsored World Happiness Report. Among young people, Israel is ranked second globally. In contrast, the United States did not even make it into the top 20. This raises an obvious question: How does Israel— the only civilized nation under constant mortal danger— maintain such high levels of happiness?

Despite the immense tragedies and challenges Israel has faced throughout history—particularly since October 7—along with ongoing threats from Iran and its terrorist proxies, as well as global boycotts and condemnations, Israel has remarkably maintained its high ranking. What is the secret to this resilience and happiness?

While happiness can be measured using various metrics, it obviously extends beyond factors such as delicious falafel, a warm climate, or picturesque landscapes.

Studies suggest that wealth and physical comforts, while undoubtedly great blessings, have a limited correlation with true happiness. Conversely, altruistic behavior—including volunteering, charitable giving, and simple acts of kindness—has been proven to enhance both the well-being of the giver and overall happiness.

Core Jewish values such as gratitude, humility, family, community, purpose, and faith play a significant role in fostering happiness. The ultimate joy in life comes from anchoring oneself to something beyond the self—achieved through maintaining a strong connection and faith in G-d and uniting with others.

This is why we feel uplifted and joyful when studying Torah, performing mitzvot and helping someone in need. These acts enable us to transcend our limitations, connecting both with our divine soul and with those around us.

Despite the myriad challenges faced by Israel and the Jewish people, we remain joyous and united with unwavering faith. While differences in opinion and lifestyle certainly persist, the tragic massacre of October 7 and the subsequent outpouring of mutual support have demonstrated that our shared connection and commonality far outweigh our differences.

In the realm of business, self-interest is a common human inclination. However, Judaism emphasizes the importance of cultivating a selfless approach—helping others wholeheartedly without expecting anything in return.

This week's Torah portion, Mishpatim, explores civil and business laws, stressing the importance of fairness and compassion in all dealings, even when no personal gain is involved.

A key mitzvah highlighted in the portion is the obligation to provide interest-free loans to a fellow Jew. As the verse states:

"When you lend money to My people, to the poor person who is with you, you shall not behave toward him as a lender; you shall not impose interest upon him." (Exodus 22:24)

Maimonides ranks interest-free loans as the highest form of charity, emphasizing the importance of supporting fellow Jews in a way that fosters independence rather than dependency.

The prohibition against charging interest may seem surprising. After all, interest plays a crucial role in a healthy economy. It enables merchants to expand their businesses, encourages innovation, creates job opportunities, and improves overall living standards. Without interest, there would be little incentive for individuals to lend money, as they could instead invest in business ventures to generate profit. Nevertheless, the Torah strictly forbids even the slightest amount of interest, regardless of whether the lender or borrower is wealthy or poor.

Ideally, one should strive to provide interest-free loans if financially able to do so. However, as commerce expanded and investments became more common among Jewish communities, the prohibition on interest made it increasingly difficult to sustain a livelihood in the financial services and banking industry and discouraged people from lending to fellow Jews. Therefore, the rabbis established a partnership-based framework in Jewish law known as Heter Iska. This legal structure reclassifies a traditional loan as an investment, making it permissible. Many banks and financial institutions are familiar with this arrangement and can implement it upon request. (A detailed explanation of Heter Iska is beyond the scope of this article.)

Nevertheless, the tradition of providing interest-free loans has always thrived in Jewish communities. In every major Jewish center, and even in most smaller ones, gemachim (free loan societies) exist to offer interest-free loans to those in need. This ensures that the entire community can partake in a significant mitzvah, ultimately benefiting everyone in the long run.

The reasoning behind this prohibition is simple: fellow Jews are considered family. Just as it would be inappropriate to charge interest to a sibling in need, it is equally inappropriate within the Jewish community. The Jewish nation is meant to function as a unified entity, each person looking out for the well-being of the other.

The sages highlight the immense spiritual reward for providing an interest-free loan, reinforcing the Torah's commandment to "love your fellow as yourself."

The Midrash teaches that whatever G-d commands His people to do, He Himself observes. The greatest lender of all is G-d, who has entrusted each of us with our soul, body, talents, health, family, and wealth—all as a "loan" to fulfill our mission in this world.

Each of us has been gifted with unique strengths and resources, which, like a loan, are meant to be used for a purpose. Just as a loan is not meant to sit idle but to be utilized productively, we have a responsibility to use our abilities to help those in need and engage in acts of goodness and kindness.

This coming week, we celebrate Rosh Chodesh (the beginning of the new month) Adar. The Talmud teaches, "When the month of Adar enters, we increase in joy." Because the joyous holiday of Purim occurs in Adar, the entire month transforms into a season of happiness. 

Let us embrace this opportunity to increase in happiness through acts of kindness and the fulfillment of mitzvot, paving the way for an era of universal happiness, peace and prosperity for all nations with the arrival of Moshiach!