Rav Avigdor Miller on Mixed Dancing at Weddings

A:

Let’s ask a different question. Is it a mitzvah to go to a wedding where they serve oysters? If you have two places to go, one is a wedding where they serve oysters and there’s no dancing, and the other is a wedding where there’s mixed dancing but there’s kosher food, pick the oysters. Of course don’t eat them. Better yet don’t go to either one, but if you had to choose one, choose the oysters.

Because oyster is ‘only’ a לאו דאורייתא. And if somebody offers you oysters and otherwise he’s going to take your life, so eat the oysters. But if somebody says “Dance with this woman, otherwise I’ll take your life,” so give him your life. It’s יהרג ואל יעבור to clutch a woman who’s not your wife.

And therefore, there’s no problem about it. You just don’t go and that’s all.

And those synagogues that permit mixed dancing, they might do better if they permitted treife meals instead. If they bring in treife catering they’d be better off.

May 1978