The Stoic Jew

Stoic Joy vs. Simchah shel Mitzvah (Seneca – Letter #59: On Pleasure and Joy)

December 30, 2021 Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss Season 6 Episode 29
The Stoic Jew
Stoic Joy vs. Simchah shel Mitzvah (Seneca – Letter #59: On Pleasure and Joy)
Show Notes

Synopsis: I recently attended the wedding of a dear friend. It would be accurate to say that the dancing at the wedding started out the same as at any Orthodox Jewish wedding and ended as a rave. In this episode I argue that this was a GOOD thing, and that it reflects a concept I suspect is unique to Judaism: simchah shel mitzvah. The episode concludes with a reflection on how the melody of the popular song “Hashem Melech” was taken from "C'est la vie," by Algerian raï singer Khaled, which is a song about the life of taivah (base pleasure).

Sources:
- Seneca, Letter #59
- Talmud Bavli Shabbos 30b
- Hashem Melech
- Khaled, C’est La Vie
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