Halachot and Customs
Why Do We Not Mix One Joy With Another?
Question
Hello, Rabbi, what is the halachic reason that one does not mix one joy with another?
Thank you very much
Answer
Hello,
It is written in the Mishnah, tractate Moed Katan (8b), that one does not marry women during a festival, and the reason for this is written there in the Gemara: because one does not mix one joy with another. The Tosafot there, s.v. lefi, write that the reason for this prohibition is so that his heart will be free for one joy and not turn away from it. That is, if he mixes one joy with another, he will not rejoice properly in either one (Nimukei Yosef there, 3b on the pages of the Rif).
With blessing,
Hillel Meirs
