Simcha (joy)

Simcha (joy) in Chassidus is presented as a necessity for serving Hashem with joy. In Tehillim it states: "Serve Hashem with joy," this verse has become one of the main principles of the entire Chassidic movement. Divine service must be performed with joy, and when actions are done with sadness and depression, they may lead to negative results.

Simcha in Chassidus edit

Simcha is one of the foundations in the ways of Chassidim. It is told that the Alter Rebbe had intended to call Chassidim by the name "The Joyful Ones."

Simcha Shel Mitzvah (Joy of a Mitzvah) edit

"The greatest joy a Jew can experience is when he knows that in every situation he finds himself... he is connected to the Holy One, blessed be He... And when a Jew contemplates this, it brings him to the greatest joy, and such joy that also changes his physical life... When a person is joyful - he himself lives a joyful life, a joy that influences all his actions and everything he comes in contact with, and he also brings joy to others around him. And this joy brings additional success in all his activities and his entire life - as is visibly evident. That is, in addition to becoming 'a person of the World to Come' through joy - he also becomes a true 'person of This World,' whose life in this world is a true, joyful, and successful life... The preparation and vessel for this is through joy in this time, a taste of 'our mouths will be filled with laughter,' and especially in the generation of the Previous Rebbe whose name 'Yosef Yitzchak' hints at an increase in laughter, mirth and joy." – Sicha of Shabbos Parshas Terumah, 5752

In Tehillim it is written, "Serve Hashem with joy," showing that mitzvos must be fulfilled with joy, and particularly as it states in the Torah that the entire matter of rebuke is "because you did not serve Hashem your G-d with joy and gladness of heart, from abundance of everything." The Alter Rebbe explains that in truth, punishment stems from sin, yet nevertheless, had one served Hashem with the joy of a mitzvah, the great power of this joy, which arouses joy Above as it were, would nullify the judgments. So too the Rambam rules, "The joy that a person experiences in performing mitzvos and in the love of G-d who commanded them is a great service."

The true joy in fulfilling mitzvos comes from love of Hashem that comes from true devotion, as we find with Rav Bruna who had a smile on his face the entire day because he connected redemption to prayer, and as we find with Rabbah who was extremely joyful and said "I am putting on tefillin," and similarly Rebbi Zeira in Brachos. This matter of laughter stems from the abundance of pleasure in his soul from connecting redemption to prayer or from the mitzvah of tefillin, to the point of experiencing unbounded pleasure in his soul, which is the cause of laughter whose root is in the essence of the source of pleasure that is not compounded with anything else. Similarly in the negative, the Philistines were mockers, and the joy and laughter of mockery comes from matters of vanity and foolishness that have no substance at all, but come only from an excessive opening of the heart. Likewise, the aspect of "Philistines of holiness" is the expansion and opening of the soul in its essence in laughter and joy that is not compounded with anything, and this is the joy of a mitzvah, where the mitzvah brings one to a state of unrestrained joy and pleasure. However, this comes specifically through the preparation of love and fear, the aspect of supreme love to delight in Hashem.

Chassidim dancing

In many places in Chassidic teachings, it is emphasized that the repetition in the verse indicating the necessity of serving Hashem with joy, "with joy and gladness of heart," shows that it is not enough to be simply joyful; the joy must specifically be abundant.

The Rebbe says: The matter of joy (in performing mitzvos) is not merely an enhancement or just a particular aspect, but a fundamental matter that affects the entire service of fulfilling mitzvos. For when a person rejoices in performing a mitzvah, this indicates that serving Hashem is dear to him, and if he is not joyful, he is, G-d forbid, disrespecting the Omnipresent.

Accepting Suffering with Joy edit

Once when a Chassid came to Lubavitch and received great closeness from the Tzemach Tzedek despite not being known as someone of special level in Divine service, the Maharash wondered about this. In response, the Tzemach Tzedek told him: It is difficult to find someone who bears suffering as he does, and he accepts everything with calmness and faith, in the way mentioned in the Gemara "one must accept [suffering] with joy," where accepting with joy doesn't mean breaking out in dance. He is a learned man who understands Chassidus and everyone dismisses him, yet no sign of expansion is noticeable on him. The Tzemach Tzedek concluded: Such a righteous person deserves that good should come to him openly. Three years later, the Chassid came to Lubavitch as an extremely wealthy man, bringing with him a minyan of Chassidim at his own expense.

Response from the Rebbe to one of the Chassidim, in which he encourages him about the importance of joy, especially in this time: "Several times I have requested and awakened that in general - and especially in this time - one needs to be in joy etc. It is understood that if those connected to me are in joy - this affects me as well (and from the positive you can hear etc.)"

Contemplation that Brings Joy edit

The Rebbe's response to one of the Chassidim, in which he encourages him about the importance of joy, especially in our time: "Many times I have asked and encouraged that in general - and especially in this time - one must be joyful, etc. It is understood that if those connected to me are joyful - this also affects me (and from the positive you can infer the negative)."

Chassidus teaches that in the very fact that we, such small people, have been given the privilege to serve G-d and bring Him pleasure - there is an inexhaustible source of tremendous joy.

Chabad Chassidus elaborates and expands on these points. In Tanya, several ways of contemplation that will bring joy are presented, both from the perspective of the body and the soul. In HaYom Yom it states: A person should contemplate how great are the kindnesses of the Blessed One, that such a small one among the small like a human being can bring great and immense pleasure to the Greatest of the great, as it is written "and His greatness is beyond comprehension." A person should always be in an elevated mood and perform his service with heart and willing soul.

In addition, the Rebbe remarked several times that we see tangibly that when a person serves Hashem with joy - he is more successful, just as any action performed with joy is done in a better way.

Requesting Joy edit

The Tzemach Tzedek learns from the verse in Psalms "gladden the soul of Your servant" that a Jew should ask Hashem to merit the attribute of joy that will be established in his soul.

Joy to Hasten the Redemption edit

The Rebbe instructed to announce that we must increase in joy in order to bring the Redemption. The Rebbe emphasized that this is not about ordinary joy but a special joy - "pure joy" - joy not for any reason, even not for a holy reason, but only to bring the Redemption.

Even though due to the difficulty of exile it is hard to experience this joy, we must bring Moshiach, and for this purpose, strength is given from Above to rejoice with pure joy in order to bring about the Redemption. The Rebbe even outlines a special way to achieve this joy: to contemplate that in a short time the Redemption will come, and then there will be complete joy. Through this contemplation, one can already attain - in the final moments before the Redemption - a feeling of joy similar to the joy that will exist in the Redemption.

A hint to the power of joy can also be found in the fact that the root letters of the word simcha (joy) - samech-mem-chet - are the root letters of the word Moshiach - mem-shin-chet. Similarly, "Moshiach" consists of the letters yud-sin-mem-chet (yismach - will rejoice).

The Joy in the Redemption edit

In the time of Redemption, joy will be complete, as it is written: "Then our mouths will be filled with laughter."

In our generation, the Rebbe added that not only is it permissible to rejoice, but there is even an obligation, and in his words:

When people argue, how can it be? After all, our Sages said that "it is forbidden for a person to fill his mouth with laughter in this world, as it is said, 'Then (in the future) our mouths will be filled with laughter'" - the leader of our generation, the eighth generation, is himself "then" (which numerically equals eight), as he himself declared that "immediately to Redemption," and said and repeatedly ordered to publicize that "behold, this [Moshiach] is coming," to the point of "pointing with his finger and saying this is it," and all that remains is to add to the matter of "stand prepared," since even the buttons are already polished, and therefore there are immediately (in addition to all matters of "Yosef," also) all matters of "Yitzchak," which is the concept of laughter and joy, in the manner of "our mouths will be filled with laughter." And concerning the statement that "it is forbidden for a person to fill his mouth with laughter in this world" - this applies when speaking about a moment before the revelation of our righteous Moshiach; but in our case, since the leader of our generation was the Moshiach of our generation, and he revealed himself in full strength - not only is permission granted, but moreover, there is an obligation to conduct oneself in the manner of "our mouths will be filled with laughter and our tongues with song." — Talk of 10 Elul 5751 - unedited

External Links edit

Always with Joy - Study and activity booklet for children on the topic of joy produced by Chabad Talmud Torah in Lod
Joy in the Light of Chassidus, Study unit on the topic of joy published by the 'Mayanosecha' system
The Service of Joy - Collection published by the 'Yafutzu' system, Adar 5777
Rabbi Chaim Shalom Deutsch, Serve Hashem with Joy, on the Chabad Torah for Yeshiva Students website
Rabbi Zalman Notik, The Epistle of Joy
Rabbi Elazar Kenig, To Come Out Positive Every Day
Rabbi Kuti Rapp, The Rebbe Instructed: Sixty Days of Joy, Try and You'll See!
Serving Hashem with Joy According to Chassidic Teachings, 'Pilpula D'Oraisa' collection, Tomchei Tmimim Kiryat Gat, 11 Nissan 5784 (issue 4) page 322
What is Joy?, From the book 'People of the Word' (English)
Joy in Chabad Chassidus • Special Collection from Our Rebbeim, on the 'Redemptive Moisture' website