''Mitzvah tantz'' (lit. "
mitzvah-dance" in
Yiddish
Yiddish (, or , ''yidish'' or ''idish'', , ; , ''Yidish-Taytsh'', ) is a West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. It originated during the 9th century in Central Europe, providing the nascent Ashkenazi community with a ve ...
) is the
Hasidic custom
Custom, customary, or consuetudinary may refer to:
Traditions, laws, and religion
* Convention (norm), a set of agreed, stipulated or generally accepted rules, norms, standards or criteria, often taking the form of a custom
* Norm (social), a r ...
of the men dancing before the bride on the wedding night, after the wedding feast. Commonly, the bride, who usually stands perfectly still at one end of the room, will hold one end of a long sash or a
gartel while the one dancing before her holds the other end.
There are times when one of the leading rabbis, usually her father or grandfather, will dance with her as well. The dance is usually a highly charged emotional moment, wherein the dancer prays silently for the couple's success in life.
Background
The custom evidently predates Hasidism, being mentioned first in the medieval ''
Machzor Vitri'', and has its basis in the
Talmud
The Talmud (; he, , Talmūḏ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law ('' halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the ce ...
(
Ketubot
A ketubah (; he, כְּתוּבָּה) is a Jewish marriage contract. It is considered an integral part of a traditional Jewish marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom, in relation to the bride. In modern practice, ...
), where there is an expression ''ketsad merakdim lifnei hakallah'' "how does one dance before the bride?" Although most Orthodox groups do not observe this practice, Hasidim have maintained a form of this ancient custom and consider a great honor to be able to dance in front of the bride to honor her on her wedding night, after the guests have departed. Custom dictates that only close relatives would participate in the dance.
Bride and groom rejoice
During the ''mitzvah tantz'', the bride and all the women, are brought to the men's section and there is no
mechitza
A ''mechitza'' ( he, מחיצה, partition or division, pl.: , ) in Judaism, is a partition, particularly one that is used to separate men and women.
The rationale in halakha (Jewish law) for a partition dividing men and women is derived from ...
separating them. In some instances the mechitza will be moved aside entirely with all the women present seated facing the men on the other side. If there is a large crowd at a wedding of a notable rabbi, most of the women will be looking down from a higher women's gallery.
The groom and most of his male relatives take turns rejoicing in front of the new bride at the time of the ''mitzvah tantz''. In the case of the marriage of children or grandchildren of notable
rebbe
A Rebbe ( yi, רבי, translit=rebe) or Admor ( he, אדמו״ר) is the spiritual leader in the Hasidic movement, and the personalities of its dynasties.Heilman, Samuel"The Rebbe and the Resurgence of Orthodox Judaism."''Religion and Spiritua ...
s, this becomes an opportunity for the entire community, followers and admirers of the rabbis involved to watch and rejoice as the ''mitzvah tantz'' is done by the leading rebbes and rabbis in attendance. This may go on all night until dawn.
Mystical symbolism
The custom of honoring the bride is related to the notion of the Jewish Godhead having both male and female components that seek unification to be united as one, as
God
In monotheistic thought, God is usually viewed as the supreme being, creator, and principal object of faith. Swinburne, R.G. "God" in Honderich, Ted. (ed)''The Oxford Companion to Philosophy'', Oxford University Press, 1995. God is typically ...
's "feminine nature" is called the
Shechina
Shekhinah, also spelled Shechinah ( Hebrew: שְׁכִינָה ''Šəḵīnā'', Tiberian: ''Šăḵīnā'') is the English transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning "dwelling" or "settling" and denotes the presence of God, as it were, in a pla ...
(which is a feminine noun), and a marriage between a Jewish man and a Jewish woman is regarded as the symbol of a ''yichud'' ("unification") of God's "oneness" with the joining of the bride and the groom. By rejoicing in front of the bride and creating an atmosphere of happiness and joy at that moment in the wedding it is, as it were, as if one were rejoicing before the Shechina and the moment of its highest unification with utmost Godliness, which is a reason for great rejoicing. In addition, a Jewish groom and bride are considered to be as if they were a King and Queen on their marriage day, so by honoring them through dance one is honoring the "Queen" and her "King."
References
{{Reflist
External links
*Nagel, Ari
Mitzvah tantz 13 August 2014. ''Multiple male guests dance with the bride, with a gartel.''
Mitzvah Tantz Of Ger Tzedek R' Ezra Chaim Shlita Tamiz 5773 12 June 2013. ''A male guest performs for the bride.''
Hasidic Judaism
Jewish marital law
Ritual dances