Simcha: Difference between revisions

Simcha during the Jewish holidays (''Yomim Tovim'') is considered a biblical commandment (''mitzvah d'oraisa''). According to the Rambam this mitzvah may be fulfilled by drinking wine and eating meat.<ref>Cohen, Alfred S. [http://books.google.com.au/books?id=BnFaZE-Q1JMC&pg=PA295 "Vegetarianism from a Jewish Perspective." ''Halacha and Contemporary Society'']. KTAV Publishing House. 1984. Page 295-297.</ref> There is no mitzvah of simcha on Shabbos, only "''oneg''" ("pleasure"). With regards to prayer (''tefilla''), the Talmud states "One should not stand up to pray while immersed in sorrow, or idleness, or laughter, or chatter, or frivolity, or idle talk, but only while rejoicing in the performance of a commandment (''b'simcha shel mitzvah'')."<ref>''Talmud, Tractate Berachos'', 31a.</ref><ref>Eisenberg, Ronald L. [http://www.books.google.com.au/books?id=_qGHi_9K154C&pg=PA524 ''Jewish Traditions: A JPS Guide'']. Jewish Publication Society, 2010. Page 524.</ref> Simcha is also cited in Halacha as an element that changes with the season. The Talmud states that one should decrease in joy during the month of Av and increase in joy during the month of Adar.<ref>''Talmud, Tractate Ta'anis'' 29a.</ref><ref>''Talmud, Tractate Ta'anis'' 26b.</ref> The decrease in joy during Av is mentioned in Rambam and Shulchan Aruch, however, the increase in simcha during Adar is not mentioned. But the Halachik sources that do mention simcha in Adar include the ''Magen Avraham'' and the ''Kitzur Shulchan Aruch''.<ref>[http://www.torahlab.org/doitright/mishenichnas_adar_marbim_bsimcha/ "Mishenichnas Adar Marbim B’Simcha."] ''torahlab.org''. Tuesday, February 28, 2012.</ref> According to the Muncatcher Rebbe, the ''Nimukei Orach Chaim'', the reason for this omission in the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch is due to the fact that happiness has no concrete guideline and very much depends on the nature of the individual. Whereas acts of sadness and mourning (where required by Jewish law) requires specification and delineation.<ref>''Nimukei Orach Chaim, Piskei Tshuvos'', Chapter 686, fn 17.</ref><ref>[http://www.revach.net/tefila/article.php?id=4390 "Rambam & Shulchan Aruch, What Happened To Halachic Happiness In Adar?"] ''revach.net''. Revach L'tefila. Accessed November 11, 2014.</ref>