On Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, Stephen Wise Temple Rabbi David Woznica delivered a sermon on seven paths to happiness through Judaism. You can view and read other High Holy Day sermons, music, and photos on our High Holy Day Highlights page.

Transcript of Rabbi David Woznica’s Sermon: “Judaism: A Road to Happiness”

JUDAISM: A ROAD TO HAPPINESS

Yom Kippur Sermon 2023-5784

Rabbi David Woznica

You can decide how happy you want to be. The moment you realize happiness is your decision, your life can change dramatically. And, if we don’t make the decision to be happy – circumstances will decide for us.

More so – if you believe being happier will make you a better person – and it almost certainly will, then you have a responsibility to embody the pursuit of happiness. No one likes to be around an unhappy spouse, parent, child, boss … being happier is better for you – and better for those around you.

For some – there may be clinical depression – or other such issues – but for the overwhelming majority of us – happiness is in our hands.

Happiness is among the most cherished desires in life. And, I believe Judaism can be an extraordinary source of happiness.  Here are seven ways Judaism can bring happiness.

I. First is Gratitude

Without genuine gratitude I do not think it is possible to be happy because you don’t appreciate what you have. Judaism helps us to develop gratitude.

Prayer can play a powerful role.  In the words of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, of blessed memory, “prayer is a seminar in gratitude.”

The first thing a Jew is to do when we open our eyes in the morning? Recite this prayer: “Modeh ani lefanecha…” thank you, living and eternal Ruler, for restoring my soul to me. We thank God we woke up.

If we recite blessing before a meal. It is a statement of gratitude.

We should walk around with a deep sense of gratitude to live in this country.  Everyone in this room had a relative who came to America – and most fled from oppressive regimes. Indeed, some of you did that yourselves.

It is also vital to appreciate what we have when we have it – not in retrospect. Let’s not take each other for granted, your spouse, you children, your parents, your livelihood, health.

When people lose these gifts, they often say, “if only things could be the way they were before – then i would be happy.” Yet -as Rabbi Joseph Telushkin notes, “…But I knew them when things were the way they were before  – and they were not happy.”

Express your gratitude. Tell your family, friends, those with whom you work, tell God – you are grateful.

Finally, realize – there will always be things missing from our lives. A key to happiness is to focus on what you do have – not on what is missing.

Gratitude is the first – and vital step – toward happiness.

II. Second – meaning or purpose –

It is vital to have deep and transcendent meaning in life –

“Our souls are not hungry for fame, comfort, wealth or power. Those rewards create almost as many problems as they solve. Our souls are hungry for meaning.” Those are the words of Rabbi Harold Kushner, author of When Bad Things Happened to Good People and 13 other books filled with insights into the human condition. He passed away just a few months ago. How fortunate we were to have him.

For the religious person – there is great meaning in serving God. And for the Jew, we have a unique role.

In the Torah portion we read this just a 15 minutes ago:– allow me to set the scene:

Jews have been wandering in the desert for nearly 40 years – they are about to enter the promised land of Israel.  Let’s try to imagine their excitement.

Moses stops and gives a speech. He reminds our people that God made a covenant – a deal – with them.

And Moses, speaking for God adds, “not with you alone do I make this covenant, but also with those who are standing here with us this day before Adonai our God and those who are not with us here today.”

In other words, God makes this covenant with every future generation of Jews. Every one of us — you and me.

What is the covenant – the pact – God makes with us? God says to the Jewish people– here is the Torah – your role is to live by it’s values. To be an or lagoyim – a light unto the nations of the world. An example. That is our purpose. That is what the chosen people were chosen to do.

But that only happens if we take Judaism seriously– and live it. I have spent my adult life in the hope of inspiring Jews to do just that. If Judaism is central to your life – not central in that you feel good about being Jewish – or you are proud to be a Jew – or you stand up against antisemitism … those are all important.

But Judaism is a unique way of living – that – frankly – too many Jews do not take seriously.

My friends, if you think Judaism has something important to say to the world, if you think the Torah brings an unparalleled set of ideals to our world – please know,  – there is no bringing Judaism and Torah to the world – unless Jews live it.

It is not being a Jew that is important. It is being Jewish that is important. We have a moral and spiritual treasure in Judaism. I can almost promise you, taking seriously the task of bringing Judaism to the world will be a deep source of meaning and bring you happiness.

It’s my hope that we will vow that our Jewish practice and commitment will grow in the coming year.

III. Judaism teaches us to live with sense of urgency – and we are reminded of this especially on Yom Kippur

“On Rosh Hashanah it is written and on Yom Kippur it is sealed … who will live and who will die.” Those words are meant to shake us up. To remind us life is not forever.

Yom Kippur calls out, “Don’t wait. Don’t wait to be happy.”

“Rabbi, I’ll be happy when: I get married, change my job, make more money, go on that vacation, lose the weight … fill in the blank …”

You should go after these things. They may become a source of happiness. I hope they do. But it could take years, decades. Some may never happen.

Don’t wait. Don’t wait until you get married, change your job, go on that vacation, make more money, lose weight…

Don’t continue with life without a hard internal stop. Today, right now, stop and examine your life. The examined, deeper life is a happier life. Don’t wait to be happy. Decide today,

IV. I believe you will be happier if you pursue goodness – and here Judaism can play the central role.

There is no guarantee if you do good you will have an easier life. And yet, think of the people you know who are dedicated to goodness. I think they are far more likely to be happy and have a sense of inner peace.

Not only that – genuinely good people attract good people – they have finer friends.

Think about the times when you have done good for another person. It might be something simple. Or it may have been when you took a bold – and perhaps unpopular – stand. When we do something good -we almost always feel good about it. We feel happy.

You may very well regret the bad things you have done. I don’t think you will regret the good.

V. Having moral grouding will make you happier – for Jews – that grounding has been the torah

One of the most important questions we can ask ourselves – or our children – how do you decide what is right and wrong?

Many people respond they follow their heart or their conscience. How many high school and university commencement addresses remind us – lest we forget –  to “follow your heart”?

Here is what the torah teaches “v’lo taturro acharei levavhem, v’acharey aneichem…”do not follow the desires of your heart and your eyes, which can lead you astray.” (Numbers 15:37-39). We recited those words this morning.

The Torah is direct. don’t let your heart – feelings – your desires – be your moral barometer.

It is so important to realize – while the secular world has much to offier – it has no enduring set of values. That is why we are told to follow our heart.  There is nothing else to follow. And when there are no enduring values – dangerous ideas can take over.

For Jews, and western civilization, the moral and spiritual guide has been the Torah and Bible. Jews who look to the torah as their moral compass, have a moral grounding. But they have something else.

There are 150 psalms in the bible. Here is the very first verses of the very first Psalm: “Happy is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scorners. But his delight is in the Torah of Adonai, on His Torah he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:1-3)

2500 years ago, the Psalms understood the Torah as a source of happiness. If the Torah becomes your moral and spiritual grounding, I believe it will be a an deep well of happiness in life.

VI. Develop Self-Control – One of Judaism’s great messages

Some years ago, the state of California created a task force to promote self-esteem. I would have much preferred a task force to promote self-control. I believe self-control or self-discipline is vital to living a happy life. Every happy person I know has self-control.

The Talmud asks “who is strong?” Ben Zoma responds: “One who overcomes his inclinations.”

One of the vital lessons our tradition teaches is that the great battles are within us. This is a life- affecting realization. At times, learning to say no to desires – liberates us.

If you reflect on your accomplishments that bring your happiness – professional, family, academic, other personal goals you have achieved – they all required self-control. It is Yom Kippur, time to set clear goals and ask ourselves what we will do to achieve them.

Developing self control – learning to say no – is saying yes to a happier life.

VII. God – role of God in happiness

Some of you have deep faith – others have difficulty believing. I want to offer a thought and suggestion that I hope will shape your life – especially to those with a greater desire for belief.

We would acknowledge we are born with inclinations: some people are musically inclined, some academically inclined, some athletically inclined – others have to work harder in those areas.

I ran cross country in high school. That was many decades ago. You train by running 4-5 miles a day. My two sons –Joshua and Daniel, also ran cross country. I told them “Did you know I ran cross country in high school too?”

My son Daniel, always respectful, politely responded, “Dad, that will require visual confirmation.”

By the way – my response? I gave him a brief lecture on the 5th of the Ten Commandments – the one about honoring your father and mother.

My point is, if some people are more musical by nature, or athletic, or academic — then some, by nature, may have a deeper sense of the spiritual, or deeper sense of God.

Some may have to work harder to have a sense of faith.

Rabbi David Wolpe wrote in Why Faith Matters, “The task for one who feels God’s absence is not to prove god, but to find God.

If you want to find God, then, just like anything else we want to find – we have to look.

How does one look for God? By bringing God into your life.

Here’s one suggestion. There is a tradition that before you go to sleep to recite what is known as the bedtime Sh’ma.

It begins, “God of the universe, I forgive anyone who angered or antagonized me or who sinned against me – whether against my body, my property, my honor or anything of mine: whether accidentally, willfully, carelessly or purposely; whether through speech, deed, thought or notion … I forgive them …   

And then it includes a prayer that we sin no more and that God, may my sins be cleansed in your abundant mercy …

Concludes with Sh’ma Yisrael … Hear, O Israel …

Regardless of your belief – or not – say those words – before you go to sleep and you have brought God closer, into your life.

And if you like that idea – when you leave services this morning, for those who wish, we have a card with that prayer. I hope you will put it on your bedside table. Perhaps you will recite this prayer with your children and grandchildren.

You want to bring God into your life? Keep a bit more kosher, give charity, limit gossip. Because that is what God and the Torah teach jews to do.

A final thought about God (at least for today): It’s appropriate to ask for things from God. But I suggest a far more important question. What does God want from me? Every time we ask that question, we engage with God. And hopefully it will make us better people.

Acting in ways that you believe will please God – can be a deep source of happiness.

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Whether you are a deep believer or are in the noble pursuit of belief – having God alongside you during the ups and downs of life can bring inner peace and happiness.

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My friends, there are many roads to happiness – religion is but one – and yet I have no doubt, that Judaism can bring a sense of deep happiness to our lives.

And even when we don’t feel happy, we can act happy.  Our actions influence our feelings. Our desire to be happy – our will to be happy – can often overcome our feelings to the contrary.

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I also realize – happiness is not necessarily related to life’s experience. I’ll bet you know many people with pretty good lives – who are not happy. And I’ll bet you know people who have had tough lives – and are happy.

There was a man. He was a concentration camp survivor. He was in Dora, Buchenwald and Bergen-Belsen. His parents were murdered in Auschwitz. Of six children, only his sister and he survived.

I’m told he woke up every morning and said to his wife, “I have everything I need. I have my wife, I have my children and I have my house. I am the luckiest man in the world.”

I know it to be true. His wife is in our sanctuary – my mom. And that man – was my father. God bless your soul, Dad.

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You can decide how happy you want to be. The moment we realize happiness is our decision, our lives can change dramatically.

This is the time of year we make vows, set goals. I hope among them, is the goal to be happy. The rewards for you – and those around you – may be incalculable.

May you all be sealed in the book of life. And may this coming year – bring you and your loved one’s blessings beyond measure.