Do I Have to Be Happy? - Women and Wisdom: Lesson 4

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Do I Have to Be Happy?: Women and Wisdom: Lesson 4

How important is it to be happy? The chassidic secret for feeling joy and gratitude no matter what is going on in life.

Audio:

Goldie Plotkin is co-director of Chabad of Markham in Thornhill, Ontario and director of the Torah Tots Pre-School. She was the keynote speaker at the International Convention of Shluchos in 2010.

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8 Comments

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jerry sandler January 29, 2026

we don't focus "on ourselves" at all. On the contrary ot is our responsibility for ourselves and others that postpones joy. Children do not have responsibilities because they have no responsibilities. Please get rhis right otherwise you are misinforming and not teaching. Reply

Anonymous Japan September 10, 2017

I love your definition of anger as denial that God is involved in your life and in the world in general. Reply

Laura Toronto June 22, 2017

I understand that we cannot live our lives without conflict, pain, suffering. But sometimes things happen when we are at our most vulnerable or sick and it is too much for us to handle. G-d knows that it is the worst time possible, yet it happens anyway. This is what I do not understand at all. It just seems that evil people get away with so much and the average person is always getting inflicted with a heavy load. Reply

Kayo Tokyo May 26, 2013

Dear Rebbetzin Plotkin,

Thank you for your great insight. However, I would like you to also address the point that in the Hashgocho Protis we are in, we have to exercise our free choice. We have to maximize the actualization of our G-d given potential at the G-d given position in we stand (though it does not mean I am doing so 100% all the time. But this is I think our objective or at least one of our objectives.) Reply

rg EY May 6, 2012

I seem to missing something??? I dunno - isn't a child the most self-absorbed, and maturity the art of looking at the next one instead of at oneself? so remaining a child would make me even more self-absorbed, no? Reply

Anonymous Hanceville, Al January 8, 2012

thank you I really needed your message today. Thank you Reply

Anonymous USA December 28, 2011

Remembering the "Hey" In the Tehillat Hashem Siddur, (p.87) the blessing seems to read "Baruch Dayan HaEmet" with the hebrew letter "hey", instead of Baruch Dayan Emet without the hebrew letter "hey".
May we be blessed with Simcha in a revealed way! Reply

Haim Sherrf Montreal, Canada December 27, 2011

Special need child You have recommended a book which I would like to get: "Rising a spirited child".
Can I have more details of that book please?
Author ach. Reply

Do I Have to Be Happy?: Women and Wisdom: Lesson 4

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