Should a Jew dance on Tisha Be’Av? Examining a Chasidic story
Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, Rabbi of Cong. Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, NY, and Mashpia at Yeshiva University, tells the following story every year to his congregation when Tisha be’Av comes around (heard from Rabbi Weinberger). You can hear it here, around 16-17 minutes into the recording.
The Koidenover Rebbe (he uses the term Koidenover tzadik, but I think it means the same thing here) used to dance on Tisha Be’Av. His puzzled Chasidim asked him about it. He responded to them as follows. Tisha be’Av there is a mitzvah to be be’aveilus (in mourning for the Beis Hamikdash). And we know that every mitzvah must be done besimcha (with joy). That is why I am dancing.
Now that is an interesting story, but the whole thing does not add up, due to the following