[Avodah] Why is it permitted to dance and clap on Simchas Torah,

[Micha Berger]

On Thu, Oct 10, 2019 at 03:27:14PM -0400, Prof. Levine wrote:
> ST is D'Rabbonon so IMO that is why dancing in permitted...
...
> For an excellent exposition on the development of ST see Ya'ari's sefer
> Toldos Chag Simchas Torah.

But ias your own source says, it is not miderabbanan. ST is a set of
minhagim. And in Israel, it's on Shemini Atzeres deOraisa.

Celebrating the siyum on the Torah on Shemini Atzeres dates back to the
9th to 12th history, depending on a machloqes among historians.

Recall that until the geonic period, Israel and nearby communities were
leining the Torah on a 3 year cycle, likely beginning and ending on
Shavuos. But even if any leings from Shemini Atzeres to Shemini Atzeres
three years later, there would only have been a siyum one year in 3.

There was no Jewish People wide siyum on the Torah for Simchas Torah to
be about until at least 400 years after Chazal.

In the 16th cent, ST meant walking around the bimah with the sifrei Torah.
Then, because you can't take a Torah out without reading it, a unique
nighttime reading.

Actually having music, dancing, clapping, etc... it's all comparatively
modern. Under the influence of the Mequbalim of Tzefat.

It would take serious ruach haqodesh for Chazal to create a loophole for
a practice that began over a millennium after chasimas hashas. (Aside
from it being minag, not din, anyway.)

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger                 I long to accomplish a great and noble task,
http://www.aishdas.org/asp   but it is my chief duty to accomplish small
Author: Widen Your Tent      tasks as if they were great and noble.
- https://amzn.to/2JRxnDF                            - Helen Keller