DEUT832 It is a positive commandment to be happy on the festivals as Scripture says, and you shall rejoice in your festival [this verse]. When the Sanctuary was in existence, the rejoicing was that a sh'lamim (peace offering) was brought in addition to the festival sh'lamim; and this was called the sh'lamim of rejoicing; and women were also obligated in this joy. At the present time, though, happiness is only through meat and wine. Then one has a duty to make his wife happy with pretty clothing, and to distribute sweet tidbits to the members of his household; and he is also obligated to make the poor people happy. If someone does not bring happiness to any poor people, his is no rejoicing in a mitzvah but only the joy of his belly; and a joy like that is a disgrace for him; as Scripture says, and I will spread dung upon your face is, the very dung of your festival (Malachi 2:3). Now, even though eating and drinking on the religious holidays is part of the positive commandment, one should not spend a long time with wine, amusement and frivolity, since that is wild foolishness and silly behavior, whereas we were commanded only about rejoicing that contains in it the worship of the blessed God; and it is impossible to worship Hashem amid unbridled amusement, frivolity or drunkenness, but only amid the happiness of a mitzvah. The happiness that a person enjoys while doing a mitzvah is a great form of worship.
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