Dancing on Yom Kippur: How Does That Make Sense?

In the Torah portion after the death of Aaron's sons, the Israelites are commanded on the order of Yom Kippur. Here, the High Priest purifies himself and conducts a special atonement and purification ritual in the Temple and the Holy of Holies to atone for all the sins of the House of Israel. Even now, though we lack the Temple, we fast, pray, and confess throughout Yom Kippur to cleanse our souls and draw closer to Hashem.

It's intriguing, then, to read the description in the Mishnah in Tractate Taanit: "Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel stated: There were no better days for Israel than the fifteenth of Av and Yom Kippur, when the daughters of Jerusalem... would go out and dance in the vineyards. What did they say? 'Young man, please lift your eyes and consider what you select for yourself, do not focus on beauty, but on family. Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, a woman who fears Hashem, she shall be praised.'"

According to this Mishnah, did the young women of Israel dance in the vineyards precisely on Yom Kippur? How does this fit with the day’s rules? Fast? Prayer? Confession?

According to the Ritva, it is fitting particularly on Yom Kippur, because in the midst of great spiritual awakening, a person's heart is not swayed by evil inclinations, and intentions are purely for the sake of Heaven. Whereas on a regular day, such a gathering might result in impropriety, on Yom Kippur, it was intentionally selected.

The Kalbo adds: Normally, matches were arranged like in any community, with people meeting and parents discussing potential matches. Those who couldn't find their match for various reasons would go to this dance, calling, 'Do not focus on beauty, a woman who fears Hashem shall be praised.' These marriages were genuinely for the sake of Heaven, attracting those who couldn't find their match through usual means, thus bearing a consecrated and mitzvah-like character.

However, some scholars say that the dancing occurred only on the fifteenth of Av, with Yom Kippur noted just as a day of joy.

Others interpret that the dances were held at the conclusion of Yom Kippur. As stated: the High Priest would host a festive occasion for his friends, and the joy of atonement led the residents of Jerusalem to dance, rejoice, and also attend to building their Jewish homes.