אות - מב

Through bitterness and sadness one does not know his own name.[85] And he said in the manner of a quip [derech tzachut]: That a dead person, when they ask him to say his name, he forgets his name, as is mentioned.[86] And this is because the dead person is in deep sadness and bitterness — therefore he does not know his name. And the general rule is that one must be very, very careful to always be joyful. And even if one is as he is — that is, Heaven forbid, very far from Hashem — even still he should rejoice greatly that he was not made a gentile. And it is already explained that regarding the matters of his deeds which are not worthy before Him blessed He — for this one needs to designate an hour of the day to do hisbodidus and to break his heart before Him blessed He, as explained elsewhere. And also during that hour it is forbidden that he should have sadness — only a broken heart. But the rest of the entire day he should be only joyful.[87] Also, through joy one can give life to another person. Because there are people who have great and terrible sufferings, may the Merciful One save us, and it is impossible for them to relate what is in their heart. And they would want to tell, but they have no one before whom to tell and to converse all that is in their heart. And they go full of sufferings and worries — and when a person comes with a cheerful face he can truly revive them. And to revive a person is not a small thing, for it is a very great thing. And as is brought in the Gemara [Ta'anit 22b]: of those two jesters who merited what they merited through this — that they used to make people joyful.