אות - קנד

Related to section 17 in Likutay Tinyana, beginning: "One must be very careful to be joyful on Shabbas" etc. — all this was said on holy Shabbas eve (319). And at first he asked me: Are you joyful on Shabbas? I answered: I am sometimes aroused in some fear on Shabbas (which is called "frum"). And I said to him in these words: "Ich bin amol frum" [I am sometimes pious/fearful]. And he answered: That is not so — the main thing is joy. And then he rebuked me greatly to be joyful specifically on Shabbas. And then he said the entire matter printed in Likutay Tinyana section 17 mentioned — about the greatness of the virtue of joy on Shabbas. And it is included there that also fear — the primary elevation of it comes specifically through the joy of Shabbas — meaning that the main thing is only the joy on Shabbas, and specifically then the fear rises — which is what is called "frum." And he went on very greatly in this holy discourse and rebuked us and me especially — to strengthen ourselves to be joyful and of good heart on Shabbas, and to multiply in Shabbas delights etc. as is printed there. And he said: Is it not true that all of a person's expenditures are fixed except the expenditures of Shabbosos and Yom Tov etc. (320). And he said: Is it not true that even a simple householder rejoices on Shabbas with his fish and his zhupitze [kugel]. And afterward he said to me: Now you will have something to be melancholy about. His meaning: since he had greatly rebuked me to be joyful on Shabbas, it could be that I would be melancholy, Heaven forbid, even more from this very thing — because I need to be joyful on Shabbas and do not merit it. (And in truth he had perceived my thought about this — for immediately at the time of his saying all the aforementioned, worries had begun to arise in my mind about how one merits joy on Shabbas.) And through these holy words he said, "Now you will have" etc. — through this he consoled and greatly strengthened me: that in any case I should not be melancholy from this very thing — that I am obligated to rejoice on Shabbas, as mentioned. Also at the time when he was greatly rebuking me about this to be joyful on Shabbas, I answered and said: I desire and greatly want to be joyful on Shabbas. (And my intent was: even if I do not merit joy on Shabbas, at least I want very much to be joyful. And I had already heard much from him about the great virtue of desire and longing etc.) (321). He answered and said to the world: Did you hear what he says? It is good what he speaks! Also he rebuked us then to sing many zemiros on Shabbas (322), and not to look at any obstacle from certain people sitting at the table who seem to not desire this — rather to strengthen oneself to sing zemiros with joy. And to conduct the table the entire day of Shabbas with great joy, for the main thing is joy on Shabbas. 319. RAK: This discourse was said between the Ninth of Av 5568 and Rosh HaShanah 5569. 320. RAK: See Beitzah 16a. 321. RAK: See above 12, 14. See below 260. 322. RAK: See Chayai Moharan, Service of Hashem, 77.