Simchah (שמחה) — Joy

Core definition

Simchah is the revelation of the soul's innerness: "simchah is the revelation of the inner delight"; "simchah is the revelation of pnimiyus of the soul" [58837/maamar_010 :: עמוד פח]. Joy is the revelation of the keli's innerness — the "face" of the keli, the ohr itself — while Torah and mitzvos in their externality are the keli's concealment; "that is: joy breaks bounds (simchah poreitz geder): for joy breaks through the concealment and hiding that was in the soul" [15739/maamar_006 :: עמוד מד].

How the Rebbeim develop it

Avodah with simchah means the inner delight is felt in the avodah itself: "avodah with simchah is that the inner delight should be felt in the avodah" [58837/maamar_010 :: עמוד פח]. Simchah shel mitzvah — joy in the mitzvah — is the mitzvah's pnimiyus, while the mitzvah's doing is its chitzoniyus: "a mitzvah with simchah as if he offered all the sacrifices" [58837/maamar_010 :: עמוד פ]. Inner delight comes only through avodah and toil — revealed delight through comprehension; "according to the pain is the reward" [58837/maamar_010 :: עמוד פ].

There are two simchahs: the revealed simchah in the heart ("with joy and gladness of heart") and the inner simchah in concealment, as in mourning — yet still avodah must be with simchah, the inner delight felt even in concealment [58837/maamar_010 :: עמוד פ]. The main simchah is in the heart: "for simchah is in gladness of heart" [58837/maamar_010 :: עמוד פח].

Why avodah must be with simchah: tefillah has two matters — Elokim comprehension and delight in Elokim-ness — from distinct sources. Comprehension alone reaches only chitzoniyus of the vessels in its root; only simchah/delight reaches the essence of the Ohr Ein Sof. The Arizal merited ruach hakodesh through simchah shel mitzvah — arousing the pnimiyus of the delight of the heart of Adam HaElyon, drawing added light [58837/maamar_010 :: עמוד צב]. The vessel for supernal simchah is bitul: "the humble shall add simchah in Havayah" [58837/maamar_010 :: עמוד צב].

Joy is mapped against gilah (gladness): simchah = the keli's innerness = general hamshachah; gilah = the Essence = particular hamshachah. So the breaking of the keilim of Tohu is simchah — revealing the ohr hidden in the keilim — while the breaking of the keilim of Tikkun is gilah — revealing the Essence; milchemes reshus is simchah, milchemes mitzvah is gilah; Simchas Torah is simchah, Shemini Atzeres is gilah [15739/maamar_006 :: עמוד מו]. Simchas Torah reveals the Torah's innerness — dancing with the Torah closed and covered, not study but joy in the Torah [15739/maamar_006 :: עמוד מד].

Key distinctions

Related concepts

Oneg (delight), Binah, simchah shel mitzvah, Simchas Torah, Shemini Atzeres, gilah, bitul, ruach hakodesh.

Sources