Happiness

New research reveals: Well-being peaks at age 47

As people move through their 40s, they describe getting to know themselves better and caring less about others’ judgments.

A family meal
A Finnish flag flies over the City Hall in Helsinki, Finland, February 10, 2024.

Finland announces 100-year study to uncover why Finns are so happy

People attend a drag performance in an underground parking lot used as a protected space in Tel Aviv, amid the war with Iran and Hezbollah and ongoing rocket fire toward Israel.

Israeli youth maintain positive moods amid global life satisfaction crisis, war - opinion

A man brandish Israeli flags following an Iranian strike in Givatayim, in the center of Israel on March 6, 2026.

Israel ranks eighth globally in 2026 World Happiness Index despite war


Sukkot: The Jewish holiday where God commands you to be happy - opinion

Commemorating the holiday in which we are commanded to be happy is something we cherish.

 A MAN walks past a row of ‘sukkot,’ temporary dwellings, already built ahead of the holiday, on a street in the Mea She’arim neighborhood, in Jerusalem, last week.

Why is Yom Kippur the happiest day of the year? - opinion

Barring an extreme sadomasochist personality, how could knowing one’s life is on the line make this day not only happy – but the happiest day of the year?

 VA'ANI TEFILATI (Yoram Raanan)

Do more people love Israel than we think? - opinion

Happiness is good. Have I mentioned that in a poll that includes all ethnicities, we are among the happiest people in the world?

 AWE: VIA Dolorosa, between fifth and sixth stations, looking east; Jerusalem’s Old City; 1898-1946.

Mothers are happier, more articulate with babies, puppies - study

Why do we articulate more when speaking to babies and puppies?

 Photograph of a mother and a puppy.

Tel Aviv ranked as world's happiest city

Tel Aviv's "rich cultural heritage, kind people, and abundance of food, shopping, and learning" were cited as the reason for the ranking.

"Smiley"'s posted on a sculpture on ha Bima square in Tel Aviv. March 19, 2016.

An autism diagnosis in later life does not impact quality of life - study

Women with autism reported a better quality of life than men with autism. Additionally, people with autism that suffer from mental health problems report a lower quality of life.

 Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder and is not a mental illness. It is also not seen as something that should be "cured." (Illustrative)

'Morning people' happier, more religious than 'night owls' - study

The study doesn’t relate to specific religions such as Judaism, but one can guess that Jews who must get up early for the daily Shacharit morning services must be morning larks and religious.

 More morning-oriented individuals may benefit from higher psychological wellbeing thanks to both personality characteristics and attitudes toward religion.

Should Jews be out having fun? - opinion

What do I want to do, fritter my time away watching something fun and frivolous? Am I really that shallow? Am I not Jewish? Do I not care about my people?

Broadway billboards in New York City's Times Square

Are Israelis incapable of accepting good news? - analysis

Give the denizens of Zion some good news and in most cases they won’t believe you, they’ll try to figure out where the catch is – because there must be a catch.

 People take cover from the rain as they walk  in the city center of Jerusalem on December 26, 2022.

Spring is here but you're not happy: Here's how you can change that

As the weather warms up, our moods tend to improve. But if you're still feeling down, here are some ways that you can fight the seasonal blues.

 How can you achieve a happier mindset? (illustrative)