# Simcha

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Hebrew given name

For other uses, see [Simcha (disambiguation)](/source/Simcha_(disambiguation)).

See also: [Happiness in Judaism](/source/Happiness_in_Judaism)

***Simcha*** ([Hebrew](/source/Hebrew_language): שִׂמְחָה **śimḥāʰ**; Hebrew pronunciation: [\[simˈχa\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Hebrew), Yiddish pronunciation: [\[ˈsɪmχə\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Yiddish)) is a [Hebrew](/source/Hebrew_language) word that means "gladness", or "joy", and is often used as a [given name](/source/Given_name).

## Uses

Main article: [Happiness in Judaism](/source/Happiness_in_Judaism)

The concept of simcha is an important one in Jewish philosophy. A popular teaching by Rabbi [Nachman of Breslov](/source/Nachman_of_Breslov), a 19th-century Chassidic Rabbi, is "Mitzvah Gedolah Le'hiyot Besimcha Tamid", "it is a great [mitzvah](/source/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.[1]

[Jews](/source/Jew) often use *simcha* in its capacity as a [Hebrew](/source/Hebrew) and [Yiddish](/source/Yiddish) noun meaning festive occasion. The term is used for any happy occasion, such as a wedding, [bar mitzvah](/source/Bar_mitzvah) or engagement.

### Holidays

The day of [Simchat Torah](/source/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](/source/Kosher) [beer](/source/Beer) from [Saxony](/source/Saxony), [Germany](/source/Germany).[2] It was also a slang term used in [Jewish-American organized crime](/source/Jewish-American_organized_crime) circles to refer to a [pimp](/source/Procuring_(prostitution)).[3] Members of the [Chabad](/source/Chabad) movement sometimes use the word Simcha (abbreviated as "S.") when referring to [place names](/source/Toponymy) that begin with the word "[Saint](/source/Saint)" in order to avoid what they believe is [idolatry](/source/Idolatry_in_Judaism). For example, some Jews may refer to the city of [Santa Monica, California](/source/Santa_Monica%2C_California), as "S. Monica."[4]

## Name

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

## See also

- [Religion and happiness](/source/Religion_and_happiness)

- [Happiness in Judaism](/source/Happiness_in_Judaism)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Likutei MoHaran](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Likutei_Moharan)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Simcha – Koscheres Bier aus Sachsen](http://www.simcha-sachsen.de)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Free-wheeling U.S. spirit stoked gangsters, prof says](http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2-0-/module/displaystory/story_id/10121/edition_id/193/format/html/displaystory.html), *Jewish Bulletin of Northern California*, December 4, 1998.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Goldstein, Yakkov. ["May one say the names of saints of idolatry, such as Paul/Peter/Patrick/Francis?"](https://shulchanaruchharav.com/halacha/may-one-say-the-names-of-saints-of-idolatry-such-as-paulpeterpatrickfrancis/#_ftn9). *shulchanaruchharav.com*. Retrieved 17 May 2024.

## External links

- ["Simcha Blisters" article about Jewish attitude of accountability to experience Simcha](http://blog.jugglingfrogs.com/2007/06/simcha-blisters.html)

- ["Simcha" - Jewish music from New Zealand](http://www.simcha.co.nz)

- [SimchaMaker - Simcha Productions in Israel](http://www.simchamaker.com)

- ["SimchaHappens" - a blog by an individual embracing simcha](http://simchahappens.blogspot.com)

- ["The South Coast Simcha Band" - A klezmer and Yiddish band in southern California](http://www.scsimchaband.com)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Simcha](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simcha) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simcha?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.