The Paradox of Prosperity: Are We Happier?
By almost every material metric, we are living in an era of unprecedented prosperity. Our grandparents could scarcely have imagined the technology, medical breakthroughs, and comforts we now take for granted. Yet recent research reveals a startling paradox: despite being wealthier and more comfortable than ever, our collective happiness is in sharp decline.
This shift is especially visible among Gen Z, where happiness levels have fallen to historic lows. Researchers point not to economic hardship, but to a deeper “poverty of the soul”—eroding social trust, rising polarization, and an epidemic of loneliness.
Science confirms that social connection is a powerful stress regulator. Without it, loneliness becomes physically toxic, carrying health risks comparable to smoking fifteen cigarettes a day.
Why are we struggling? Perhaps because we have grown accustomed to a culture of “What's in it for me?” When relationships are treated as transactions, the trust required for genuine well-being cannot take root.
The Jewish Blueprint for Joy
Studies suggest that while physical comforts are blessings, their correlation with lasting joy is limited. Altruistic behavior—volunteering, generosity, and simple acts of kindness—consistently enhances the well-being of the giver.
Core Jewish values such as gratitude, humility, community, and faith offer a roadmap out of isolation. Ultimate joy comes from anchoring ourselves to something beyond the self. This is why we experience a unique uplift when studying Torah or performing a mitzvah: these acts allow us to transcend personal limitations and connect both to our Divine soul and to one another.
We see this resilience within the Jewish people today. Despite the heart-wrenching challenges following the October 7th massacre, the extraordinary outpouring of mutual support and renewed Jewish engagement demonstrates that our shared connection far outweighs our differences. In times of trial, we do not turn inward—we turn toward each other.
Business Beyond Self-Interest: Parshat Mishpatim
In the business world, self-interest is often the norm. Judaism, however, calls for a higher standard—one rooted in responsibility, selflessness, and compassion. This week's Torah portion, Mishpatim, outlines civil laws that emphasize fairness even when no personal gain is at stake.
Among these is the obligation to provide interest-free loans:
“When you lend money to My people, to the poor person who is with you, you shall not behave toward him as a lender; you shall not impose interest upon him.”
Maimonides ranks the interest-free loan as the highest form of charity because it preserves dignity and fosters independence:
“The greatest level, above which there is no greater, is to support a fellow Jew by endowing him with a gift or loan, entering into a partnership with him, or finding employment for him, in order to strengthen his hand so that he will not need to depend upon others.”
While interest remains a vital engine of the modern economy—and Jewish law provides frameworks that enable productive investment through a loophole called Heter Iska—the tradition of the gemach (free loan society) continues to thrive in Jewish communities worldwide.
The reasoning is simple: fellow Jews are family. Just as one would not charge a sibling interest in a time of need, we are called to look out for one another as parts of a single whole.
When we cultivate an altruistic mindset, happiness and building trusted relationships is no longer elusive—it becomes a natural outcome.
The Ultimate Lender
The Midrash teaches that G-d observes the very commandments He gives us. In this sense, G-d is the “Greatest Lender,” entrusting each of us with a soul, a body, talents, and material resources. These are not meant to sit idle; they are loans granted so that we may fulfill a mission of goodness in this world.
By giving at least a tenth of our income to charity, thereby fulfilling the Mitzvah of giving Maaser, we acknowledge that our resources are a sacred trust. The remaining ninety percent is placed in our hands to use wisely and purposefully. The Torah teaches that giving charity invites more Divine blessings and one receives much wealth in return.
As we enter the month of Adar this coming week, the Talmud teaches, “When Adar enters, we increase in joy.” Since the joyous holiday of Purim occurs in Adar, the entire month transforms into a season of happiness.
Let us embrace this opportunity to increase in happiness through acts of kindness and the fulfillment of mitzvot, paving the way for an era of universal happiness, peace and prosperity for all nations with the arrival of Moshiach. As stated in the book of Psalms: “Then our mouth will be filled with laughter, and our tongue with songs of joy…"
