The Kuzari On Why We Shokel

The Kuzari* writes:

The reason we shake during learning is because Loshon Hakodesh allows for about ten people or more to gather around one Sefer which rests on the ground and read from it.


Each of the ten would have to regularly bend over and read a word and then stand erect to allow another to bend over and read.


This is how moving back and forth originated.

From then on it became an accepted Minhag because people looked at the movements of others and wanted to emulate them. This is human nature” (to imitate)



*2: 80