Illustration Credit: Elad Lifshitz, Dov Abramson Studio
Halakhah הֲלָכָה
What do you think is the right attitude to have when you’re doing mitzvot?
In Ki Tavo, we’re told that we should serve God בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְטוּב לֵבָב (b’simhah u-v’tuv leivav, with joy and with gladness of heart; Devarim 28:47).
Rabbeinu Behaye explains:
שֶׁיִּתְחַיֵּב הָאָדָם לִהְיוֹתוֹ שָׂמֵחַ בַּמִּצְוֹת כְּשֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָן אוֹ יִרְאֶה אֲחֵרִים עוֹשִׂין...
וְיָדוּעַ כִּי הַשִּׂמְחָה בְּמַעֲשֵׂה הַמִּצְוֹת מִצְוָה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָהּ. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁהַמִּצְוָה עֲבוֹדָה לָה' יִתְבָּרֵךְ, כָּךְ הַשִּׂמְחָה עַל הַמִּצְוָה נִקְרֵאת עֲבוֹדָה, וְכֵן כְּתִיב "תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר לֹא עָבַדְתָּ אֶת ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּשִׂמְחָה..." (דְּבָרִים כח:מז)
People are supposed to be happy about mitzvot when they observe them, or when they see others observing…
It’s known that being happy about mitzvot is itself a mitzvah. Each mitzvah is considered “avodah” (service or worship) of God, and happiness is also called “avodah” – as it says, “because you didn’t do the ‘avodah’ of God your Lord with simhah” (Devarim 28:47).
There are also certain times on the Jewish calendar designated for extra simhah. For example, we sing זְמִירוֹת (zemirot, special Shabbat songs) in order to express the joy of the day.
On Yom Tov, celebrating with simhah is considered a serious מִצְוָה דְּאוֹרָיְתָא (mitzvah de-orayta, biblical commandment)! Rambam writes that simhah on Yom Tov involves eating special foods (like meat and wine), wearing new clothes, singing and dancing, distributing fruits and sweets to children, and feeding people who are poor (Sefer Hamitzvot, Mitzvot Asei #54, Hilkhot Shevitat Yom Tov 6:18).
-------------------
-------------------
