Is it a "מצוה טאנץ" or "עבירה טאנץ"?

The כוונת המצוה טאנץ

A fascinating look at the evolution of the Minhag of מצוה טאנץ

Five hundred years ago, it was the prevailing מנהג in Poland for the wedding guests—particularly the תלמידי חכמים and other חשובים—to dance with the כלה while holding her hand.

The Reason Given by Those Who Defended the Practice

Those who defended the practice argued that it was done כדי לחבבה על בעלה, to enhance the husband's affection for his wife, and also as a display of honor to the כלה's father, כבוד אביה.

They maintained that there was no concern of הרהורי עבירה, since the dancing was not performed דרך חיבה, but solely for the sake of the מצוה. Furthermore, it took place publicly, in full view of the assembled guests.

Opposition of the פוסקים

The מהרש"ל and other פוסקים strongly opposed this מנהג and sought to abolish it.

They regarded it as a classic case of מצוה הבאה בעבירה —a so-called "עבירה טאנץ"— since it involved physically holding the hand of an אשת איש.

The View of the ב"ח

The ב"ח, however, writes that in his region of Galicia this custom was still practiced and did not object to its continuation where it was an established מנהג.

Nevertheless, he strongly condemned introducing such a practice in places where no such מנהג existed.

A Partial Modification

In some communities, those participating in the dance held the כלה's hand through a kerchief, ensuring that there was no direct skin-to-skin contact.

The תורת חיים, however, rules that even this is prohibited, maintaining that holding hands remains אסור even when a cloth separates them.

מצוה טאנץ

At a later stage, a modified form of the מנהג developed. Instead of holding hands, the כלה would grasp one end of a kerchief while the participant held the other end, with no physical contact between them.

Thus, the present-day "מצוה טאנץ" has effectively replaced the original "עבירה טאנץ" of earlier generations.

A Thought

Perhaps one may suggest that the very same כוונות that once animated the earlier practice— לחבבה על בעלה and כבוד אביה should continue to inspire the מנהג as it is observed today.

אמבצי

Sources

• רמ"א אהע"ז כ"א:ה

• פתחי תשובה אהע"ז ס"ה:ב

• At a later stage a Gartel replaced the kerchief.