Founder’s Blog
Spreading Simcha pt.1
Simcha means Joy--so let us spread some this season!
And you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns. (Deuteronomy 16:14)
The Torah commands us to have joy in our feasts. Although the context of this verse specifically applies to Sukkot, the Sages expanded it to all of the Festivals. This is positive commandment number 54 of the 613 commandments traditionally enumerated in the Torah. Therefore, all our festivals should be celebrated with simchah [joy]. If we do not look forward to them, we are doing something wrong.
Traditionally, this joy is enhanced through delicacies, sumptuous meals and special treats for the children. We all love to eat and there is something about the food at the festivals that makes them extra special. But what about those that cannot afford these things?
Sadly, there are many in Israel who do not look forward to the coming feasts because they barely have enough money to provide food everyday for their families, let alone the special meals for the festivals. They long to have simchah on the festivals, but it is largely overshadowed by financial gloom. Yet we have an opportunity to help.
It is really the equivalent to Thanksgiving here in the States. When November rolls around many non-profit organizations make specific appeals to help collect food and money for the needy so that they can have a joyous holiday. Although these people are often in dire need of care year round, during holidays such as Thanksgiving, this need becomes escalated and unbearable. While everyone else is rejoicing many are suffering.
This is the first of three posts in the âSpreading Simchahâ series. In the next post we will make a specific appeal for an organization in Israel that we trust that aids poor families during the Fall Festivals by providing food baskets for them to cover a full two-week period. Stay tuned.
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**Reply** I'll share more in pt.2-3
Abby | September 10, 2007 8:26 AM