Simcha: Difference between revisions

'''Simcha''' (שמחה), or '''Happiness''' in Judaism is mostly noted as an important component of serving God (''avodat Hashem'') in Tanach,<ref>''Deuteronomy'', 28:45, 28:47.</ref><ref>''Psalms'', 100:2.</ref><ref>[http://www.ravkooktorah.org/PSALM100.htm "Psalm 100: Serving God in Joy."] ''RavKookTorah.org''. Accessed November 11, 2014.</ref><ref>Rabbi Avraham Isaac HaKohen Kook. ''Olat Re'iyah'', vol. I, pp. 221-222.</ref> Kabbalah,<ref>[http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=47204&st=&pgnum=12 ''Hasimcha B'aspeklarya Hayahadus''.] Dvar Yerushalayim. Beit Shemesh: Jerusalem. 1989. Page 12.</ref><ref>''Sefer Chareidim'', "Mitzvat Hateshuvah", ch. 4.</ref> Chassidus<ref name=happyyankel>Yanklowitz, Shmuly.  [http://www.jewishjournal.com/bloggish/item/judaisms_value_of_happiness_living_with_gratitude_and_idealism_20120309 "Judaism's value of happiness living with gratitude and idealism."] Bloggish. ''The Jewish Journal''. March 9, 2012.</ref><ref>Rabbi Yisroel Baal Shem Tov, ''Keter Shem Tov'', Hosafot, Chapter 169.</ref><ref>Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, ''Likkutei Maharan'', Part 2:24.</ref><ref>Freeman, Tzvi. [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/1303177/jewish/Just-Happy.htm "Just Happy."] ''Bringing Heaven Down To Earth''. Class One Press. Accessed November 11, 2014.</ref><ref name=tanya26>[http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/475953/jewish/On-Sadness-and-Joy.htm "Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi on Sadness and Joy."] Joy: An Anthology. ''Chabad.org''. Accessed November 11, 2014.</ref> and Mussar.<ref>Rabbi Yisroel Salanter. [http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pagefeed/hebrewbooks_org_31377_29.pdf ''Sefer Imrei Binah, Kevutzas Maamarim.''] Warsaw. 1878. Page 29.</ref> In Halacha, Simcha is both an essential component to the practice of all the mitzvot,<ref>''Yad Hachazakah'', Hilchot Lulav 8:15.</ref><ref name=epis44>Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov. [http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/145465/jewish/Tzavaat-Harivash-44.htm "Epistle 44."] ''Tzava'at Harivash''. Trans. Jacob Immanuel Shochet. Kehot Publication Society. Brooklyn: New York. Fn 3.</ref> as well as required in specific Halachik contexts.