Editing Simchat Torah (section)

=== Celebration and dancing ===
Modern customs of celebration and dancing arose in the early [[Rishonim|Rishonic]] period. [[Isaac ibn Ghiyyat|Isaac ibn Ghayyat]] (1030–1089) writes in his ''Me'ah She'arim'' that he asked [[Hai ben Sherira|Hayy ben Sherira]] "about those whose wont is to remove the sefer Torah from its ark at the close of the holiday, and [Hayy] responded that this is not our practice ... but that local customs should not change." [[Joseph Colon Trabotto]] adds in his ''Responsa'' that in his edition (ours is lacunose), ibn Ghayyat added that Hayy had also written, "Our habit is to dance [on the day after Sh'mini Atzeret] specifically, even many of the elders, when they make eulogies of the Torah, and this is permitted because it glorifies the Torah", a ruling affirmed by [[Moses Isserles]] (''Darkhei Moshe''). This places the custom of removing the scrolls from the ark and dancing in some locales into the 11th century. [[Abraham ben Isaac of Narbonne]] (1080–1158) writes in ''haEshkol'' that "this teaches that we make a feast to complete the Torah. Therefore we make great feasts and ample delicacies on the day of Simchat Torah, to honor the Torah's completion". [[Abraham ben Nathan]] (12th century) writes in ''haManhig'' that "the French rite is ... they make large celebrations, the entire community in the homes of the honorees, because it is the Simchat Torah." [[Zedekiah ben Abraham Anaw]] (13th century) writes in ''Shibbolei haLeqet''  that "It is called Simchat Torah ... the custom is for the Chatan Torah to make a feast and to distribute sweets and candies".