Devar/5770/Shemini Atseret
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עברית
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And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast (Deut 16:14)
What is being referred to here? On the one hand, the Torah is talking about the bringing of additional peace-offerings beyond what is required (Laws of Festival Offerings 1:4). But we do not currently have the ability to bring such offerings -- is then the commandment of "rejoicing" expired? No! There is still a commandment of "rejoicing" -- the "family celebration" -- such that the men drink wine and eat meat, the women receive new clothes and jewelry, and the children get treats and so forth (Laws of Holiday Rest 6:16).
There, he adds: And when he eats and drinks, he must feed the convert, the orphan and the widow as well as all other destitude and miserable people. But he who locks his courtyard doors and eats and drinks only he and his children and wife, and doesn't feed give drink to the poor and embittered -- that is not the "rejoicing" of the commandment, but rather the "rejoicing" of his own stomach.
There is another side to "rejoicing": Who is rich? The one who is happy with his lot (Mishna Avoth 4:1). What does that mean? That whatever the righteous person has, he got honestly and by his own efforts -- and he knows that he didn't oppress or steal from anyone, and that whatever he has, is justly his. Therefore, whether he has much or little, he is happy with his lot. When he eats his holiday meal, he doesn't eat by himself, rather he invites one who doesn't have as much as he, and makes him a partner in his lot, and gladdens him -- and by that he gladdens his Creator may He be blessed, and ends up worshipping God with the most complete holiday joy.
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