[Avodah] No HaKafos Even on Simchas Torah

[Prof. Levine]

HaKafos on Simchas Torah were not introduced until the latter part of 
the 16th century by the ARI is Sefas. From there they first spread to 
various parts of EY and then to Chutz L'Aretz.  However, there was 
opposition to this "new innovation" in many places. One place was in 
Frankfurt am Main.  From what I have posted at 
http://www.stevens.edu/golem/llevine/rsrh/no_hakafas.pdf  HaKafos 
were introduced in Frankfurt, then abolished, then introduced again, 
then abolished, etc.  The opposition was so strong that one writer 
categorized them in very strong language. See 
http://www.stevens.edu/golem/llevine/rsrh/no_hakafas.pdf

For the record, in most of Germany there were no HaKafos at night on 
Simchas Torah.HaKafos were made only during the day. RSRH introduced 
HaKafos at night on Simchas Torah in Frankfurt, but there certainly 
was opposition. Rav S. Schwab introduced HaKafos at night at Shearith 
Israel in Baltimore shortly after he became the shul's rov.

There certainly were no HaKafos in Germany or in Ashkenaz shuls on 
Shemini Atzeres.  Indeed, it is clear from R. Avraham Yari's 
fascinating sefer, Toldos Chag Simchas Torah, that making HaKafos on 
SA is a mistake. The ARI introduced HaKafos in Sefas on the night 
after SA, not on SA at night.  See Yari's book for a detailed 
discussion of how an error crept into the writings of those who 
quoted what R. Chaim Vital wrote about what the ARI did and when he did it.

YL
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