The Torah’s Take on Happiness
Part of the series, Living a Life of Meaning
Moses’ final speech concludes with a declaration of the happiness of being a Jew: “Happy are you, O Israel!” But does the Torah describe any individual as happy? While the pursuit of happiness is one of the founding ideals of American culture, the Torah is remarkably sparse in its references to anyone’s happiness. What is the Jewish understanding of happiness, as expressed in the Torah and its interpretations? Is the American ideal of happiness a Jewish concept at all?
With Rabbi Jan Uhrbach, Director of the Block / Kolker Center for Spiritual Arts, JTS.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The disruption to our normal life, and for many, close encounters with mortality, provides an opportunity to evaluate what is truly important in our lives. Guided by JTS faculty and fellows we discuss the role of values, ethics, and Torah in the quest for a well-lived life.
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