The current Coronavirus pandemic has changed our lives in many ways, some quite subtle and others highly noticeable. One of the most obvious changes is that many of us have had to learn a new skill -- recognising people who are wearing face-masks. Along with this comes the challenge of assessing their mood: are they happy or sad, puckish or pensive? Fortunately, the mouth is not the only part of the face that communicates a person's inner thoughts; the eyes -- assuming that they remain visible -- also express a person's mood.
The issue of smiling and face masks is discussed in this recent piece in the Jewish Journal that reminds us of Shammai's injunction (Avot 1:15) to greet everyone with a happy, smiling face. This applies just as much to people who wear a face-mask, just as it should do to people one encounters in the dark. This is not just because a smile makes a favourable impact on the person greeted -- it also affects the mood of the person doing the greeting (the 'smilor' rather than the 'smilee'). So do remember to smile and greet others warmly: it's good for your health too!
