The Soldier Dances

Once, during the mitzvah tantz at a wedding where the Belzer Rebbe was dancing, a Jewish soldier in uniform joined the dance. Some of the dancers tried to remove the soldier, but the Rebbe stopped them. Many soldiers, after their forced conscription, no longer kept Shabbos or the mitzvos or any semblance of Yiddishkeit.

The Rebbe explained why he let the soldier join the circle. The pasuk says, "Vayisa Yaakov raglav," Yaakov raised his feet, which refers to dancing. It continues, "Vayeilech artza bnei kedem," he went to the land of the children of the East, which refers to the belief that our ancestors come down from Heaven and join us during the mitzvah tantz.

The holy tzaddik concluded, "Nu, let them come down from Shamayim and see what has been done to their children. Let them see how Jews have been forced into the army and forced to abandon Yiddishkeit. Perhaps they will beg for divine mercy for their children."