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Why does the Torah (תורה) attribute exile to serving God without happiness rather than sinat chinam? The mitzvah (מצוה) of Bikurim reveals that true happiness comes from recognizing Divine ownership rather than personal entitlement. When we view ourselves as recipients of unearned gifts rather than collectors of debts owed to us, every blessing becomes a source of joy instead of disappointment.
Rabbi Zweig addresses a profound question from Parshas Ki Savo: why does the Torah (תורה) attribute the Jewish people's 2,000-year exile to serving God without happiness, rather than the commonly cited reason of baseless hatred (sinat chinam)? He begins by noting the severity of this 'punishment' - exile lasting far longer than punishments for adultery and murder combined - questioning where the Torah actually commands us to be happy. The core insight centers on the mitzvah (מצוה) of Bikurim (first fruits). When we bring our first fruits to God, the Torah promises 'you shall rejoice with all the goodness that Hashem (ה׳) your God has given you.' This teaches that happiness stems from recognizing Divine ownership rather than personal entitlement. The rabbi illustrates this with a Talmudic story of a rabbi who said only six words at a wedding: 'Woe to us, we will die' - not to dampen spirits, but to establish that nothing we have was guaranteed to exist.
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Parshas Ki Savo, Devarim 28:47
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