Sefer HaChinuch ספר החינוך

The commandment to rejoice on the festivals: To rejoice on the festivals, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 16:14), “And you shall rejoice on your holiday.” And the first matter that is hinted in joy is that we offer peace-offerings regardless [of one’s circumstances] at the Choice House. And [this] is like the matter that is written (Deuteronomy 27:7), “And you shall offer peace-offerings” and it continues, “and you shall rejoice on your holiday.” And [concerning] the offering of peace-offerings, they, may their memory be blessed, said (Chagigah 6b), “Women are obligated in joy” — meaning that even they are obligated to bring peace-offerings of joy. And they, may their memory be blessed, also said (Chagigah 8a), “Rejoice in all types of rejoicing.” And included in this is the eating of meat and the drinking of wine, to wear new clothes, the distribution of fruit and types of sweets to the youths and the women and to play musical instruments in the Temple alone — and that is the joy of the drawing house (simchat beit hashoevah) that is mentioned in the Gemara (Sukkah 50a). All that we mentioned is included in “And you shall rejoice on your holiday.” And they, may their memory be blessed, said in Tractate Pesachim 109a, “A man is obligated to gladden his children and the members of his household on a festival.” And it is said there, “It was taught, Rabbi Yehudah ben Beteira says, ‘At the time when the Temple is standing, joy is only with meat, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 27:7), “And you shall offer peace-offerings, etc.” Now [...] joy is only with wine, as it is stated (Psalms 104:15), “And wine gladdens the heart of man.”’” And they said further, “With what should one make them rejoice? Men with what is fit for them, with wine. And women with what is fit for them, with nice clothes.” And the Torah also warned us to include the poor and the strangers (converts) and the weak in the joy, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 16:14), “you, the Levite, the stranger, the orphan and the widow.”

It is from the roots of the commandment [that it is] because man is designed in [such] a way that his nature requires rejoicing occasionally, [just] like it requires nourishment in any case, and rest and sleep. And God wanted to give us — “His people and the flock of His grazing” — merit and [so] commanded us to make the rejoicing for His sake, so that we could merit in all of our deeds in front of Him. And behold, He fixed for us times during the year for holidays, to remember upon them the miracles and the goodnesses that He granted us. And He commanded us then at those times to support the physical with something of joy that it needs. And it comes out as a big remedy for us that the satiation of joyous occasions be for His sake and to remember Him; as this thought will be a fence, that we do not go further out than is enough from the straight path. And the one who has reflection without a desire to argue will find reason in my words.

And I have written a few of the laws of the commandment above. And the rest of its details are in Tractate Chagigah and in [various] places scattered in the Gemara.

And this commandment is practiced regarding the joy — but not regarding the sacrifice — in every place and at all times by males and females. And one who transgresses it and does not rejoice himself, the members of his household and the poor according to his ability, for the sake of the commandment of the festival, has nullified this positive commandment. And in the way that we mentioned did they, may their memory be blessed, say (Avot 2:17), “All of your actions should be for the sake of Heaven.”