The Mitzva Tantz

Today I linked a video of a mitzva tantz [mitzva dance] and received interesting feedback. I would like to explain more.

What is the mitzva tantz all about?? A man, a Rebbe, dances with a woman, a [newly] married woman?? If I had a seminary [that is the plan after the yeshiva takes off but everything costs sooo much money and I don't have, so who knows:-)] and one of my male teachers danced with a student he'd be fired in a second - even if they danced by holding the ends of a long gartel. That is inappropriate, unacceptable and an assault on standards of modesty. Here we have CHASIDIM who are so careful about tzniyus to the point of having separate buses for men and women, who sometimes don't even call their own wives by their first name, who sometimes have separate seating even in the home, singing along as a Rebbe publicly dances with a woman.

A scandal.

So here goes sweetest friends. The holy books are also bothered by this question. The answer is two-fold. A] We follow the assumption that the Rebbe is not going to feel a yetzer hara. [If it's a daughter or granddaughter this is an even safer assumption]. B] This is where it gets deep. There is revealed Torah and hidden Torah. The mitzva tantz is explained on the deepest levels of hidden Torah - mysticism. I would tell you what the deeper meaning is but I don't understand myself. It has something to do with the kallah representing כנסת ישראל - that mystical entity called the collective soul of the Jewish people. She is [representing] the highest and most sublime levels of existence. There is a lot more but I don't understand. I just read and translate but can't comprehend such lofty, other-worldly concepts.

Since this is a hallowed minhag it will continue in certain communities until the coming of Moshiach and beyond.

Someone asked me how the kallah feels. Isn't she embarrassed with thousands of people looking at her? Truth be told I have never actually asked a girl how she felt so if there are any women reading this who took part in a mitzva tantz [unlikely...] - please email me [more unlikely] and tell me what you were thinking. I am guessing that being able to dance with such a holy person is a special experience. I have danced with tzadikim and I loved it [although I am not bashful as a girl may be]. Next time I am on the train to Williamsburg I will ask a random chasidishe woman how it was.

No I won't:-).