ושמחת בכל הטוב אשר נתן לך

In this week’s Parsha, it talks about the mitzvah of bikkurim – “ושמחת בכל הטוב אשר נתן לך” – You shall rejoice with all the good that Hashem gave you…” ביכורים is a segulah (omen) for simcha (joy) because it trains us to have hakaras hatov (acknowledge a good deed), to know that all the good that we have is from Hashem.

The Kav HaYasher writes, “Everyone experiences miracles. Especially during recent times, when there’s so much strife in the world – war, hunger, diseases. So, when Hashem spares a person from all these tragedies, he should continually praise Hashem for his peace and security.”

Notably, during the month of Elul, as we near the end of the year, we should praise Hashem for all the kindness we enjoyed this year. As implied in the word אלול – the ראשי תיבות is “ויאמרו לאמר אשירה לה” – I will sing to Hashem.”

The Belzer Rebbe shlita shared: “Viznitzer chassidim once asked my grandfather, the holy Ahavas Yisroel of Viznitz zt” l, why he doesn’t share words of Mussar (preaching) with his chassidim during the month of Elul. The Ahavas Yisroel zt” l responded: ‘I say words of Mussar through stirring songs that evokes one to do Teshuva, as we see from the word of ‘אלול – ויאמרו לאמר אשירה לה!”