17 myths
Simchah, the commandment to rejoice: the dancing at the Temple, the joy of Shabbat, and the happiness that draws the divine presence.
17 myths on JewishMythology.com retell how Jewish tradition imagines joy, drawn from the Hebrew Bible, Midrash, Talmud, Kabbalah, and later Jewish literature. Each story below synthesizes primary sources into a single narrative; follow any myth to read it, and from there into the source passages behind it.
Jethro the Midianite lays burnt offerings on the fire while Aaron and the elders come to eat bread, and Moses stands and serves them all.
In the fourth palace of heaven, thousands of angels gather at Sabbath tables. An angelic overseer watches to see who rejoices and who does not.
Every day ten oxen, a hundred sheep, and a bird from Barbary carrying itself to the kitchen. The world came to Solomon unbidden. Then it stopped coming.
At one hundred Abraham held a son. On Moriah he held a knife. Coming down, he found Sarah dead and paid four hundred shekels for a grave.
Abimelech bowed to Isaac's blessing, then the light left his eyes. Abraham's name poured like oil while patriarchal song was only fragrance on the wind.
Moses heard the angels praising and brought the words down as a whisper. When Israel says them, the angels' wings droop and their own song stops.
The nations said the old woman was passing off Hagar's baby as her own. God dried up the milk of every noblewoman who had said it.
Fire killed two of his sons at the altar. The instructions that follow in the Torah tell their father how to walk into that same room once a year, alone.
Rabbi Judah set down his books when a bridal procession passed. God Himself had dressed Eve and led her to Adam, so dancing a bride is holy work.
Earthly kings give a gift or give rest, never both. God gave Israel the Sabbath and a double portion of manna in one breath, rest and bread together.
At Rabbi Judah's son's feast, Bar Kappara told riddles until wine spilled by the barrel. He said he was teaching Torah through joy.
In Kavul a father sent his son for wine mid-feast. The attic held a snake. Guests finished the meal, then changed wedding blessings into burial.
Moses, Aaron, Nahshon, and two priestly sons fill one woman's day. Then sanctuary fire takes the sons she named with pride.
Rebekah sent food first so Isaac's heart would lift. The Presence rests on joy, she knew, and only then would the blessing hold.
Four golden lampstands made Jerusalem glow at the water drawing. Beyond that joy, God Himself will teach Torah by heart.
Adam had canopies of precious stone and a heel that outshone the sun. He still ended as dust. At the table a man set his cup down, wine still sweet.
On Sukkot nights Rabbi Shimon ben Gamaliel spun eight torches without a clash, then bowed on two thumbs until his lips met Temple stone.
