Simcha/Joy: One of my favorite Jewish values! (October 2015 KOL)
Tue, October 27, 2015
Tonight, we will celebrate the joy of Sukkot and Simchat Torah, in spite of the pouring rain. We will rejoice in 19 new children being consecrated on our bimah, starting our religious school, and becoming the newest part of our Jewish future. And we will smile as our children around the sanctuary sing about Torah, with flags waving. Simchat Torah literally means, “Joy of Torah” and we try to live this value every day, not just once a year.
I am reading a brand new book published by Jewish Lights entitled, Jewish Spiritual Parenting: Wisdom, Activities, Rituals and Prayers for Raising Children with Spiritual Balance and Emotional Wholeness (2015) by Rabbi Paul Kipnes and his wife Michelle November, MSSW. At the end of the book they have a section “The Many Different Kinds of Joy.” It is the first time I have ever seen anyone collect all the Jewish words for joy that exist. I have known and used them all, but never realized how many different kinds of Jewish joy there are. Here is a part of what they share (p. 167-8):
Avot D’Rabbi Natan 34:9, a minor tractate of the Talmud, lists ten words that are used to describe joy. But, according to our count, Judaism has at least four more. Each illuminates another facet of joy:
Simcha -considered the broadest word for joy, it also notes complete happiness in its fullest sense. (I would add that Simcha is also a word we use for a party/occasion celebrating a joyous moment. Eg, “I will be so happy to attend your Simcha.” Fill in wedding, bar mitzvah, baby naming. The actual Jewish event is called a Simcha!)
Chedva –pure and unfiltered, expressing the happiness of being with others
Ditza–awe-inspiring, related to dancing
Gila–a stronger sensation that bursts forth but is more transient and worldly (related to gal, meaning “wave”)
Hana’a–enjoyment of something specific
Nachas –prideful joy brought on especially by our children (In modern Hebrew the word is Nachat, but we still use the Yiddish and wish people much naches from their children and grandchildren)
Osher–deeper, abiding, connected to a yearning for inner peace and a life of meaning
Ora–signifying both “light” and “joy,” suggesting an interplay between awareness and uplift. (We say, “Torah Ora” –signifying that Torah is both light and joy for our lives, and “Ora v’Simcha”- “Light and Joy” lift our spirits and our souls)
Pitzcha–bursting into song
Ranan –being so overcome as to cry or shout in joy
Rina–related to singing and shouting, often very revitalizing
Sasson–happiness coming on unexpectedly
T’rua–joy expressed in a shout or cheer (like a shofar)
Tzahala–combining both happiness and dancing
There is so much to learn from all of these words. First and foremost, Judaism is a religion of joy not sorrow, happiness not mourning, celebration over sadness. And our holidays are times to embrace as many kinds of joy as we can. God knows that life has sadness, just as we know. But, our faith and tradition teach us to celebrate life, L’chaim,savoring moments of joy and gladness.
Mid-October, we enter the Jewish month of Cheshvan. It is the only month of our calendar that has no holidays, so it has been nicknamed, “Mar Cheshvan”– “Bitter Cheshvan.” I have never liked that name, because we still have Shabbat and babies being born, and weddings…so many simchas to celebrate with 14 different kinds of joy. I have trouble with dedicating one month to bitterness. I just can’t do it.
Years ago, when I was a student rabbi, I got a call in my office from a woman who said that she wanted to come in to talk about becoming a Jew, because she felt our pain. I shared with her that I was a Jew because of Jewish JOY, not Jewish PAIN. She then replied, “Well then, I am not interested in joining you.” As a young woman, I was shocked by her desire to only want to plug into Jewish pain. I vowed that day to spend my life sharing Jewish Joy. And those of you who came to Rosh Hashanah Family Services know that I take Jewish Joy very seriously, Inside and Out!
Let this New Year bring all of us many facets of Joy, and may you find that Joy here at TBS, in your Jewish celebrations and observances, and with those you love.
B’simcha/ In Joy,
Rabbi Amy R. Perlin, D.D.