BBC Radio 4 2016-10-19

As Jews around the world celebrate Succot, or Tabernacles, this week, we are instructed in the Book of Deuteronomy, “You must rejoice on your festival and be very happy.”

Now, how can there be an imperative to be joyous? Sure enough, there are many pleasant aspects of this festival, during which we eat special meals in temporary dwellings outside of our homes and celebrate the conclusion of the agricultural year. But, no-one can control his or her feelings and emotions, so how can there be a command to be happy?

One of the most popular ‘TED Talks’ of 2016, with more than eleven million views online, is a fascinating presentation by the Psychiatrist, Prof. Robert Waldinger, on the Harvard study of Adult Development. What makes this study so astonishing is that it has been running since 1938. Whereas most studies exploring happiness and fulfilment rely on brief snapshots of people’s lives, this project looks at the entire lives of its participants. It can analyse their key aspirations and experiences in the broadest possible context.

The most significant conclusion of the research is that strong personal relationships give us more rewarding and healthier lives. Those who are the happiest in their relationships when they are 50 are the healthiest when they reach 80. “People who are more connected to family, to friends, to community,” Waldinger says, “are happier, they're physically healthier, and they live longer than those who are less well connected.”

In a world where there is so much loneliness and isolation there’s perhaps a greater responsibility on us to acknowledge that true happiness is not achieved when the world is kind to you, but when you see all the good that exists in the world and celebrate it with those closest to you.

The Bible differentiates between happiness and elation. I may be elated when I hear wonderful news or enjoy a remarkable experience. But, just as quickly as the transitory sensation of elation comes to me, it can leave me again. Happiness, on the other hand, is not something we have to be lucky enough to stumble upon. It’s that sense of enduring fulfilment and inner peace arising from the achievements we attain and the relationships we enjoy.

The Biblical call to Jews to be happy on the festival of Succot is not a superficial one – just to be in a good mood. It’s a call to re-evaluate our priorities in life.

In the midst of our busy schedules I believe that true happiness is found not in what we have to live with but in whom we live for.

First broadcast 19 October 2016