Chapter 8

אאַרְבַעַת מִינִין הָאֵלּוּ שֶׁהֵן לוּלָב וַהֲדַס וַעֲרָבָה וְאֶתְרוֹג שֶׁהָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶן יָבֵשׁ אוֹ גָּזוּל אוֹ גָּנוּב אֲפִלּוּ לְאַחַר יֵאוּשׁ אוֹ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מֵאֲשֵׁרָה הַנֶּעֱבֶדֶת אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁבִּטְּלוּ הָאֲשֵׁרָה מִלְּעָבְדָהּ. אוֹ שֶׁהָיָה שֶׁל עִיר הַנִּדַּחַת. הֲרֵי זֶה פָּסוּל. הָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶן שֶׁל עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים לֹא יִטּל לְכַתְּחִלָּה וְאִם נָטַל יָצָא. הָיָה כָּמוּשׁ וְלֹא גָּמַר לִיבַשׁ כָּשֵׁר. וּבִשְׁעַת הַדְּחָק אוֹ בִּשְׁעַת הַסַּכָּנָה לוּלָב הַיָּבֵשׁ כָּשֵׁר אֲבָל לֹא שְׁאָר הַמִּינִין:

1[These are the rules governing] the four species: the lulav, the myrtle, the willow, and the etrog. If one of them was:
a) dried out,¹
b) taken by force² or stolen,³ even after [the owner had] despaired of its recovery,⁴
c) came from an ashera⁵ that has been worshiped, even though the worship of the ashera has already been nullified,⁶
d) or it came from an apostate city
it⁷ is not acceptable.⁸
If one of them belonged to an idolater:⁹ at the outset, it should not be taken.¹⁰ If it was taken, the person has fulfilled his obligation.¹¹
If [one of the species] was wilting, but had not dried out entirely, it is kosher.¹² In extreme situations or in a time of danger, a dried out lulav is kosher.¹³ However, [this does not apply] to the other species.¹⁴

באֶתְרוֹג שֶׁל עָרְלָה וְשֶׁל תְּרוּמָה טְמֵאָה וְשֶׁל טֶבֶל פָּסוּל. שֶׁל דְּמַאי כָּשֵׁר שֶׁאֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיַּפְקִיר נְכָסָיו וְיִהְיֶה עָנִי שֶׁמֻּתָּר לוֹ לֶאֱכל דְּמַאי. אֶתְרוֹג שֶׁל תְּרוּמָה טְהוֹרָה וְשֶׁל מַעֲשֵׂר שֵׁנִי בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם לֹא יִטּל שֶׁמָּא יַכְשִׁירוֹ לְטֻמְאָה. וְאִם נָטַל כָּשֵׁר:

2An etrog¹⁵ of orlah,¹⁶ of impure terumah,¹⁷ and of tevel¹⁸ is unacceptable. [An etrog] of d'mai¹⁹ is permitted, for it is possible for a person to declare all of his property as ownerless.²⁰ Thus, he will be a poor man who is permitted to eat d'mai.²¹
An etrog of pure terumah and of ma'aser sheni in Jerusalem²² should not be taken, lest one cause it to become susceptible to contracting ritual impurity.²³ However, if it was taken, it is kosher.²⁴

גלוּלָב שֶׁנִּקְטַם רֹאשׁוֹ פָּסוּל. נִסְדַּק אִם נִתְרַחֲקוּ שְׁנֵי סְדָקָיו זֶה מִזֶּה עַד שֶׁיֵּרָאוּ כִּשְׁנַיִם פָּסוּל. הָיָה עָקוּם לְפָנָיו שֶׁהֲרֵי שְׁדֵרוֹ כְּגַב בַּעַל חֲטוֹטֶרֶת פָּסוּל. הָיָה עָקוּם לַאֲחוֹרָיו כָּשֵׁר שֶׁזּוֹ הִיא בְּרִיָּתוֹ. נֶעֱקַם לְאֶחָד מִצְּדָדָיו פָּסוּל. נִפְרְדוּ עָלָיו זֶה מֵעַל זֶה וְלֹא נִדַּלְדְּלוּ כַּעֲלֵי הַחֲרָיוֹת כָּשֵׁר. נִפְרְצוּ עָלָיו וְהוּא שֶׁיִּדַּלְדְּלוּ מִשְּׁדֵרוֹ שֶׁל לוּלָב כַּעֲלֵי הַחֲרָיוֹת פָּסוּל:

3A lulav whose tip²⁵ becomes cut off is unacceptable.²⁶ Should it become split to the extent that the two sides of the split become severed and appear to be two, it is unacceptable.²⁷
If it is bent forward²⁸ so that its shidrah appears like a hunchback, it is unacceptable.²⁹ If it is bent backwards,³⁰ it is kosher, since that is its natural pattern of growth.³¹ If it is bent toward either side, it is unacceptable.³²
If its leaves have separated one from the other, but they have not begun to hang downward like the top of a date palm,³³ it is kosher.³⁴ However, if its leaves have burst open and they hang down from the shidrah as does the top of the date palm, it is unacceptable.³⁵

דבְּרִיַּת עָלִין שֶׁל לוּלָב כָּךְ הִיא. כְּשֶׁהֵם גְּדֵלִין גְּדֵלִין שְׁנַיִם שְׁנַיִם וּדְבוּקִין מִגַּבָּן וְגַב כָּל שְׁנֵי עָלִין הַדְּבוּקִין הוּא הַנִּקְרָא תְּיֹמֶת. נֶחְלְקָה הַתְּיֹמֶת פָּסוּל. הָיוּ עָלָיו אַחַת אַחַת מִתְּחִלַּת בְּרִיָּתוֹ ולֹא הָיָה לָהֶם תְּיֹמֶת פָּסוּל. לֹא הָיוּ עָלָיו זֶה עַל גַּב זֶה כְּדֶרֶךְ כָּל הַלּוּלָבִין אֶלָּא זֶה תַּחַת זֶה אִם רֹאשׁ זֶה מַגִּיעַ לָעִקָּר שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה מִמֶּנּוּ עַד שֶׁנִּמְצָא כָּל שְׁדֵרוֹ שֶׁל לוּלָב מְכֻסֶּה בְּעָלִין כָּשֵׁר. וְאִם אֵין רֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל זֶה מַגִּיעַ לְצַד עִקָּרוֹ שֶׁל זֶה פָּסוּל:

4The natural pattern of growth of the leaves of the lulav is that two grow in pairs, connected at their back. The back of each pair of connected leaves is called the tiyomet. If the tiyomet is split, it unacceptable.³⁶ Should a lulav's leaves grow individually from the beginning of its formation without having a tiyomet, it is unacceptable.³⁷
When a lulav's leaves do not grow on top of the other like all lulavim, but rather one below the other, [the following rules apply:] If the top [of the lower leaf] reaches the base of the one above it so that the entire shidrah of the lulav is covered with leaves, it is kosher.³⁸ If the top [of the lower leaf] does not reach the base of the one above it, it is unacceptable.

ההֲדַס שֶׁנִּקְטַם רֹאשׁוֹ כָּשֵׁר. נָשְׁרוּ רֹב עָלָיו אִם נִשְׁתַּיְּרוּ שְׁלֹשָׁה עָלִין בְּקֵן אֶחָד כָּשֵׁר. הָיוּ עֲנָבָיו מְרֻבּוֹת מֵעָלָיו אִם יְרֻקּוֹת כָּשֵׁר וְאִם אֲדֻמּוֹת אוֹ שְׁחוֹרוֹת פָּסוּל. וְאִם מִעֲטָן כָּשֵׁר. וְאֵין מְמַעֲטִין אוֹתָן בְּיוֹם טוֹב לְפִי שֶׁהוּא כִּמְתַקֵּן. עָבַר וְלִקְּטָן אוֹ שֶׁלִּקְּטָן אֶחָד אֶחָד לַאֲכִילָה הֲרֵי זֶה כָּשֵׁר:

5A myrtle branch whose top is cut off is acceptable.³⁹ Even though most of its leaves have fallen off, it is kosher, provided three leaves remain in one row.⁴⁰
When there are more berries than leaves, [the following rules apply:] If they are green, it is kosher.⁴¹ If they are red or black,⁴² it is not acceptable.⁴³ If one reduced their number,⁴⁴ it is acceptable.⁴⁵
We may not reduce their number⁴⁶ on the holiday itself,⁴⁷ because [by doing so, one] makes [the myrtle] fit for use.⁴⁸ If one transgressed and removed them or removed them one by one to eat them,⁴⁹ it is kosher.⁵⁰

ועֲרָבָה שֶׁנִּקְטַם רֹאשָׁהּ כְּשֵׁרָה. נִפְרְצוּ עָלֶיהָ פְּסוּלָה:

6A willow branch whose top is cut off is kosher.⁵¹ If its leaves have burst open,⁵² it is not acceptable.⁵³

זאֶתְרוֹג שֶׁנִּקַּב נֶקֶב מְפֻלָּשׁ כָּל שֶׁהוּא פָּסוּל. וְשֶׁאֵינוֹ מְפֻלָּשׁ אִם הָיָה כְּאִיסָר אוֹ יֶתֶר פָּסוּל. חָסֵר כָּל שֶׁהוּא פָּסוּל. נִטַּל דָּדוֹ וְהוּא הָרֹאשׁ הַקָּטָן שֶׁשּׁוֹשַׁנְתּוֹ בּוֹ פָּסוּל. נִטַּל הָעֵץ שֶׁהוּא תָּלוּי בּוֹ בָּאִילָן מֵעִקַּר הָאֶתְרוֹג וְנִשְׁאַר מְקוֹמוֹ גּוּמָא פָּסוּל. עָלְתָה חֲזָזִית עָלָיו אִם בִּשְׁנַיִם וּשְׁלֹשָׁה מְקוֹמוֹת פָּסוּל. וְאִם בְּמָקוֹם אֶחָד אִם עָלְתָה עַל רֻבּוֹ פָּסוּל. וְאִם עַל דָּדוֹ וַאֲפִלּוּ כָּל שֶׁהוּא פָּסוּל. נִקְלַף הַקְּרוּם הַחִיצוֹנָה שֶׁלּוֹ שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְחַסְּרוֹ אֶלָּא נִשְׁאָר יָרֹק כְּמוֹת שֶׁהִיא בְּרִיָּתוֹ אִם נִקְלַף כֻּלּוֹ פָּסוּל וְאִם נִשְׁאַר מִמֶּנּוּ כָּל שֶׁהוּא כָּשֵׁר:

7If an etrog is perforated⁵⁴ from side to side⁵⁵ - no matter how small the hole is⁵⁶ - it is not acceptable.⁵⁷ When [the hole] does not go from side to side, if it is the size of an isar⁵⁸ or more,⁵⁹ [the etrog] is not acceptable.⁶⁰ If [a hole was made in an etrog which caused] even the slightest amount [of the etrog] to be missing, [the etrog] is not acceptable.⁶¹
If its pitam⁶² - i.e., the small protrusion from which its flower grows - was removed, it is not acceptable.⁶³ [Similarly,] if the stem from which it hangs from the tree is removed from the etrog itself and a hole is left, it is not acceptable.⁶⁴
If it becomes covered with bumps⁶⁵ in two or three places,⁶⁶ it is not acceptable.⁶⁷ Even if it is covered with bumps in only one place,⁶⁸ if that place covers the majority of the etrog's surface area,⁶⁹ it is not acceptable. [Similarly,] if a bump grows on even the slightest portion of the pitam, it is not acceptable.
If its peel is removed without causing [the etrog] to lose any substance and it remains greenish yellow as in its natural state, [the following rules apply:] If the peel was entirely removed, it is not acceptable. If even the slightest portion of the original peel remains, it is kosher.

חאֶתְרוֹג שֶׁהוּא תָּפוּחַ סָרוּחַ כָּבוּשׁ שָׁלוּק שָׁחֹר לָבָן מְנֻמָּר יָרֹק כְּכַרְתִּי פָּסוּל. גִּדְּלוֹ בִּדְפוּס וְעָשָׂהוּ כְּמִין בְּרִיָּה אַחֶרֶת פָּסוּל. עָשָׂהוּ כְּמִין בְּרִיָּתוֹ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁעָשָׂהוּ דַּפִּין דַּפִּין כָּשֵׁר. הַתִּיוֹם וְהַבֹּסֶר כָּשֵׁר. מָקוֹם שֶׁהָאֶתְרוֹגִין שֶׁלָּהֶם כְּעֵין שַׁחֲרוּת מְעוּטָה כְּשֵׁרִין. וְאִם הָיוּ שְׁחוֹרִים בְּיוֹתֵר כְּאָדָם כּוּשִׁי הֲרֵי זֶה פָּסוּל בְּכָל מָקוֹם:

8An etrog which is inflated,⁷⁰ decaying,⁷¹ pickled,⁷² cooked,⁷³ black, white, spotted,⁷⁴ or green like a leek is unacceptable.⁷⁵
If it was grown in a mold and shaped into the form of another creation, it is unacceptable.⁷⁶ If its natural form was preserved, even though it was shaped in different layers, it is kosher. Two etrogim that grow joined together,⁷⁷ and an unripe etrog are kosher.⁷⁸
In places where the etrogim grow naturally with a slight black tinge, it is kosher.⁷⁹ However, if [the etrogim] are very black⁸⁰ - i.e., like a Kushite - they are unacceptable everywhere.

טכָּל אֵלּוּ שֶׁאָמַרְנוּ שֶׁהֵם פְּסוּלִין מִפְּנֵי מוּמִין שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ אוֹ מִפְּנֵי גֵּזֶל וּגְנֵבָה בְּיוֹם טוֹב רִאשׁוֹן בִּלְבַד אֲבָל בְּיוֹם טוֹב שֵׁנִי עִם שְׁאָר הַיָּמִים הַכּל כָּשֵׁר. וְהַפַּסְלָנוּת שֶׁהוּא מִשּׁוּם עֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים אוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאוֹתוֹ אֶתְרוֹג אָסוּר בַּאֲכִילָה בֵּין בְּיוֹם טוֹב רִאשׁוֹן בֵּין בִּשְׁאָר יָמִים פָּסוּל:

9All the species which we categorized as unacceptable because of the blemishes we described⁸¹ or because they were stolen or taken by force⁸² are [disqualified for use] only on the first day of the festival.⁸³ On the second day of the festival⁸⁴ and on the other days,⁸⁵ they are all kosher.⁸⁶
Those which are disqualified because of the association with idol worship⁸⁷ or because the etrog is forbidden to be eaten⁸⁸ are unacceptable both on the first day and on the later days.

יאֵין אָדָם יוֹצֵא בְּיוֹם טוֹב רִאשׁוֹן שֶׁל חַג בְּלוּלָבוֹ שֶׁל חֲבֵרוֹ שֶׁיִּשְׁאָלֶנּוּ מִמֶּנּוּ עַד שֶׁיִּתְּנֶנּוּ לוֹ בְּמַתָּנָה. נְתָנוֹ לוֹ עַל מְנָת לְהַחֲזִירוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה יוֹצֵא בּוֹ יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ וּמַחֲזִירוֹ. שֶׁמַּתָּנָה עַל מְנָת לְהַחֲזִיר שְׁמָהּ מַתָּנָה. וְאִם לֹא הֶחְזִירוֹ לֹא יָצָא שֶׁנִּמְצָא כְּגָזוּל. וְאֵין נוֹתְנִין אוֹתוֹ לְקָטָן שֶׁהַקָּטָן קוֹנֶה וְאֵינוֹ מַקְנֶה לַאֲחֵרִים מִן הַתּוֹרָה וְנִמְצָא שֶׁאִם הֶחְזִירוֹ לוֹ אֵינוֹ חוֹזֵר. וְאֶחָד הַלּוּלָב וְאֶחָד כָּל מִין וָמִין מֵאַרְבַּע מִינִין שֶׁבּוֹ אִם הָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶן שָׁאוּל אֵין יוֹצְאִין בּוֹ בְּיוֹם טוֹב רִאשׁוֹן:

10On the first day of the festival,⁸⁹ a person cannot fulfill his obligation by using a lulav that belongs to a colleague and was borrowed from him,⁹⁰ unless the latter gives it to him as a present.⁹¹
If [the owner of the lulav] gives it to him as a present on the condition⁹² that he return it, he may fulfill his obligation with it and return it,⁹³ because a present given on condition that it be returned is considered a present.⁹⁴ If he does not return it, he does not fulfill his obligation, because it is as though it were stolen.⁹⁵
[On the first day,]⁹⁶ a lulav should not be given to a minor,⁹⁷ since, according to Torah law, a minor can acquire articles⁹⁸ but cannot transfer them to others.⁹⁹ Thus, [the minor's] return of the article is not considered to be a return [from a legal perspective].¹⁰⁰
The above applies to the lulav and to each of the other species of the four taken with it.¹⁰¹ If one of them was borrowed, the person does not fulfill his obligation on the first day of the festival.

יאשֻׁתָּפִין שֶׁקָּנוּ לוּלָב אוֹ אֶתְרוֹג בְּשֻׁתָּפוּת אֵין אֶחָד מֵהֶן יוֹצֵא בּוֹ יְדֵי חוֹבָתוֹ בָּרִאשׁוֹן עַד שֶׁיִּתֵּן לוֹ חֶלְקוֹ בְּמַתָּנָה. הָאַחִין שֶׁקָּנוּ אֶתְרוֹגִין מִתְּפִיסַת הַבַּיִת וְנָטַל אֶחָד מֵהֶן אֶתְרוֹג וְיָצָא בּוֹ. אִם יָכוֹל לְאָכְלוֹ וְאֵין הָאַחִין מַקְפִּידִין בְּכָךְ יָצָא. וְאִם הָיוּ מַקְפִּידִין לֹא יָצָא עַד שֶׁיִּתְּנוּ לוֹ חֶלְקָם בְּמַתָּנָה. וְאִם קָנָה זֶה אֶתְרוֹג וְזֶה פָּרִישׁ אוֹ שֶׁקָּנוּ כְּאֶחָד אֶתְרוֹג וְרִמּוֹן וּפָרִישׁ מִתְּפִיסַת הַבַּיִת אֵינוֹ יוֹצֵא בָּאֶתְרוֹג עַד שֶׁיִּתֵּן לוֹ חֶלְקוֹ בְּמַתָּנָה וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאִם אֲכָלוֹ אֵין מַקְפִּידִין עָלָיו:

11When partners purchase a lulav or etrog together, neither is¹⁰² able to fulfill his obligation with it on the first [day of the festival]¹⁰³ unless his colleague gives him his portion as a present.¹⁰⁴
Should brothers purchase etrogim from the funds [of their father's] estate, which they have not divided yet:¹⁰⁵ If one of them takes an etrog with the intent of fulfilling his obligation, [the following rules apply:] If he could eat it without the other brothers objecting,¹⁰⁶ he has fulfilled his obligation. If they would object,¹⁰⁷ he does not fulfill his obligation until they give him their share [in the etrog] as a present.¹⁰⁸
If one brother bought an etrog and another a quince, or together they bought an etrog, a pomegranate, and a quince from the funds [of their father's] estate, which they have not divided yet,¹⁰⁹ one cannot fulfill one's obligation with the etrog until the others give him their share [in it] as a present, even though they would not object to his [use of it].

יבאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכָּל הַמּוֹעֲדוֹת מִצְוָה לִשְׂמֹחַ בָּהֶן. בְּחַג הַסֻּכּוֹת הָיְתָה בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ יוֹם שִׂמְחָה יְתֵרָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כג מ) "וּשְׂמַחְתֶּם לִפְנֵי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם שִׁבְעַת יָמִים". וְכֵיצַד הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין. עֶרֶב יוֹם טוֹב הָרִאשׁוֹן הָיוּ מְתַקְּנִין בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ מָקוֹם לַנָּשִׁים מִלְּמַעְלָה וְלָאֲנָשִׁים מִלְּמַטָּה כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִתְעָרְבוּ אֵלּוּ עִם אֵלּוּ. וּמַתְחִילִין לִשְׂמֹחַ מִמּוֹצָאֵי יוֹם טוֹב הָרִאשׁוֹן. וְכֵן בְּכָל יוֹם וְיוֹם מִימֵי חֻלּוֹ שֶׁל מוֹעֵד מַתְחִילִין מֵאַחַר שֶׁיַּקְרִיבוּ תָּמִיד שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם לִשְׂמֹחַ לִשְׁאָר הַיּוֹם עִם כָּל הַלַּיְלָה:

12Even though it is a mitzvah to rejoice on all the festivals,¹¹⁰ there was an additional celebration in the Temple on the festival of Sukkot,¹¹¹ as [Leviticus 23:40] commands: "And you shall rejoice before God, your Lord,¹¹² for seven days."¹¹³
What was done? On the eve of the first day of the festival,¹¹⁴ they would set up a place in the Temple¹¹⁵ where women [could watch] from above, and men from below, so they would not intermingle with each other.¹¹⁶
The celebration would begin on the night after the first day of the festival.¹¹⁷ Similarly, on each day of Chol Hamo'ed, after offering the daily afternoon sacrifice, they would begin to celebrate for the rest of the day and throughout the night.¹¹⁸

יגוְהֵיאַךְ הָיְתָה שִׂמְחָה זוֹ. הֶחָלִיל מַכֶּה וּמְנַגְּנִין בְּכִנּוֹר וּבִנְבָלִים וּבִמְצִלְתַּיִם וְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בִּכְלֵי שִׁיר שֶׁהוּא יוֹדֵעַ לְנַגֵּן בּוֹ. וּמִי שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ בַּפֶּה בַּפֶּה. וְרוֹקְדִין וּמְסַפְּקִין וּמְטַפְּחִין וּמְפַזְּזִין וּמְכַרְכְּרִין כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד כְּמוֹ שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ וְאוֹמְרִים דִּבְרֵי שִׁירוֹת וְתֻשְׁבָּחוֹת. וְשִׂמְחָה זוֹ אֵינָהּ דּוֹחָה לֹא אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת וְלֹא אֶת יוֹם טוֹב:

13What was the nature of this celebration?¹¹⁹ The flute would be sounded¹²⁰ and songs played on the harp, lute, and cymbals. [In addition,] each person would play on the instrument which he knew. Those who could sing, would sing.¹²¹ They would dance and clap their hands, letting loose and whistling, each individual in the manner which he knew. Words of song and praise were recited.¹²²
This celebration does not supersede either the Sabbath or the festival [prohibitions].¹²³

ידמִצְוָה לְהַרְבּוֹת בְּשִׂמְחָה זוֹ. וְלֹא הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין אוֹתָהּ עַמֵּי הָאָרֶץ וְכָל מִי שֶׁיִּרְצֶה. אֶלָּא גְּדוֹלֵי חַכְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְרָאשֵׁי הַיְשִׁיבוֹת וְהַסַּנְהֶדְרִין וְהַחֲסִידִים וְהַזְּקֵנִים וְאַנְשֵׁי מַעֲשֶׂה הֵם שֶׁהָיוּ מְרַקְּדִין וּמְסַפְּקִין וּמְנַגְּנִין וּמְשַׂמְּחִין בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ בִּימֵי חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת. אֲבָל כָּל הָעָם הָאֲנָשִׁים וְהַנָּשִׁים כֻּלָּן בָּאִין לִרְאוֹת וְלִשְׁמֹעַ:

14It is a great mitzvah to maximize this celebration.¹²⁴ The common people and anyone who desired would not perform [in these celebrations];¹²⁵ only the greatest of Israel's wise men: the Rashei Yeshivot, the members of the high court, the pious, the elders, and the men of stature.¹²⁶ They were those who would dance, clap their hands, sing, and rejoice in the Temple on the days of the festival of Sukkot.¹²⁷ However, the entire people¹²⁸ - the men and the women - would come to see and hear.

טוהַשִּׂמְחָה שֶׁיִּשְׂמַח אָדָם בַּעֲשִׂיַּת הַמִּצְוָה וּבְאַהֲבַת הָאֵל שֶׁצִּוָּה בָּהֶן. עֲבוֹדָה גְּדוֹלָה הִיא. וְכָל הַמּוֹנֵעַ עַצְמוֹ מִשִּׂמְחָה זוֹ רָאוּי לְהִפָּרַע מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כח מז) "תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר לֹא עָבַדְתָּ אֶת ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְטוּב לֵבָב". וְכָל הַמֵּגִיס דַּעְתּוֹ וְחוֹלֵק כָּבוֹד לְעַצְמוֹ וּמִתְכַּבֵּד בְּעֵינָיו בִּמְקוֹמוֹת אֵלּוּ חוֹטֵא וְשׁוֹטֶה. וְעַל זֶה הִזְהִיר שְׁלֹמֹה וְאָמַר (משלי כה ו) "אַל תִּתְהַדַּר לִפְנֵי מֶלֶךְ". וְכָל הַמַּשְׁפִּיל עַצְמוֹ וּמֵקֵל גּוּפוֹ בִּמְקוֹמוֹת אֵלּוּ הוּא הַגָּדוֹל הַמְכֻבָּד הָעוֹבֵד מֵאַהֲבָה. וְכֵן דָּוִד מֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל אָמַר (שמואל ב ו כב) "וּנְקַלֹּתִי עוֹד מִזֹּאת וְהָיִיתִי שָׁפָל בְּעֵינָי". וְאֵין הַגְּדֻלָּה וְהַכָּבוֹד אֶלָּא לִשְׂמֹחַ לִפְנֵי ה' שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל ב ו טז) "וְהַמֶּלֶךְ דָּוִד מְפַזֵּז וּמְכַרְכֵּר לִפְנֵי ה'": סָלִיק הִלְכוֹת שׁוֹפָּר סֻכָּה וְלוּלָב

15The happiness with which a person should rejoice in the fulfillment of the mitzvot and the love of God who commanded them is a great service.¹²⁹ Whoever holds himself back from this rejoicing is worthy of retribution, as [Deuteronomy 28:47] states: "...because you did not serve God, your Lord, with happiness and a glad¹³⁰ heart."
Whoever holds himself proud, giving himself honor, and acts haughtily in such situations is a sinner and a fool.¹³¹ Concerning this, Solomon warned [Proverbs 28:10]: "Do not seek glory before the King."
[In¹³² contrast,] anyone who lowers himself and thinks lightly of his person in these situations¹³³ is [truly] a great person, worthy of honor,¹³⁴ who serves God out of love.¹³⁵ Thus, David, King of Israel,¹³⁶ declared [II Samuel 6:22]: "I will hold myself even more lightly esteemed than this and be humble in my eyes," because there is no greatness or honor other than celebrating before God, as [II Samuel 6:16] states: "King David was dancing wildly and whistling before God."¹³⁷

Sefaria: Torat Emet 363 · Public domain · sefaria.org

Sefaria: Mishneh Torah, trans. by Eliyahu Touger. Jerusalem, Moznaim Pub. c1986-c2007 · CC BY-NC · sefaria.org