Yitro 5784: The work of joy

Abstract

Since October 7th, we have analyzed several angles related to the emotional experience of the war. Dating back to the 1880’s, the excitement of a redemptive return to the Land of Israel had been continually marked by pain and suffering. Learning from the commentators’ analysis of Jethro’s mixed emotions, we can cull two strategies for coping with these challenges. Despite the pain, we could perform the emotion work of trying to inject some level of joy, at least for the sake of helping others. We could also validate the complexities of the human psyche and acknowledge the reality that joy and pain can coexist.