View source for Simcha

{{Short description|Hebrew given name}}
{{Other uses}}
{{See also|Happiness in Judaism}}

'''''Simcha''''' ({{langx|he|שִׂמְחָה}} {{Transliteration|he|''śimḥāʰ''}}; {{IPA|he|simˈχa}}, {{IPA|yi|ˈsɪmχə}}) is a [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] word that means "gladness", or "joy", and is often used as a [[given name]].

==Uses==
{{Main|Happiness in Judaism}}

The concept of simcha is an important one in Jewish philosophy. A popular teaching by Rabbi [[Nachman of Breslov]], a 19th-century Chassidic Rabbi, is "Mitzvah Gedolah Le'hiyot Besimcha Tamid", "it is a great [[mitzvah]] (commandment) to always be in a state of happiness". When a person is happy one is much more capable of serving God and going about one's daily activities than when depressed or upset.<ref>[[s:Likutei Moharan|Likutei MoHaran]]</ref>

[[Jew]]s often use ''simcha'' in its capacity as a [[Hebrew]] and [[Yiddish]] noun meaning festive occasion. The term is used for any happy occasion, such as a wedding, [[bar mitzvah]] or engagement.

===Holidays===
The day of [[Simchat Torah]], "Rejoice in the Law", marks the completion and beginning of the annual cycle of reading the Torah.

===Other uses===
Simcha is also the name of a [[kosher]] [[beer]] from [[Saxony]], [[Germany]].<ref>[http://www.simcha-sachsen.de Simcha – Koscheres Bier aus Sachsen<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It was also a slang term used in [[Jewish-American organized crime]] circles to refer to a [[Procuring (prostitution)|pimp]].<ref>[http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/10121/edition_id/193/format/html/displaystory.html Free-wheeling U.S. spirit stoked gangsters, prof says], ''Jewish Bulletin of Northern California'', December 4, 1998.</ref> Members of the [[Chabad]] movement sometimes use the word Simcha (abbreviated as "S.") when referring to [[Toponymy|place names]] that begin with the word "[[Saint]]" in order to avoid what they believe is [[Idolatry in Judaism|idolatry]].  For example, some Jews may refer to the city of [[Santa Monica, California]], as "S. Monica."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Goldstein |first1=Yakkov |title=May one say the names of saints of idolatry, such as Paul/Peter/Patrick/Francis? |url=https://shulchanaruchharav.com/halacha/may-one-say-the-names-of-saints-of-idolatry-such-as-paulpeterpatrickfrancis/#_ftn9 |website=shulchanaruchharav.com |access-date=17 May 2024}}</ref>

==Name==
Simcha is also used as a given name, for men or women. In the [[Ashkenazi]] Jewish tradition, the name Simcha is most likely to be used for a boy, while in the [[Sephardic]]/[[Israelis|Israeli]] tradition it would be a girl's name.

==See also==
*[[Religion and happiness]]
*[[Happiness in Judaism]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://blog.jugglingfrogs.com/2007/06/simcha-blisters.html "Simcha Blisters" article about Jewish attitude of accountability to experience Simcha]
*[http://www.simcha.co.nz "Simcha" - Jewish music from New Zealand]
*[http://www.simchamaker.com SimchaMaker - Simcha Productions in Israel]
*[http://simchahappens.blogspot.com "SimchaHappens" - a blog by an individual embracing simcha]
*[http://www.scsimchaband.com "The South Coast Simcha Band" - A klezmer and Yiddish band in southern California]

[[Category:Hebrew words and phrases]]
[[Category:Jewish culture]]


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