Page 29 - Jewish News_January 2020
P. 29
JEWISH INTEREST January 2020 29A
The hora and S
Israeli folk dance ARASOTA CONCERT
By Arlene Stolnitz A SSOCIATION
ho can resist joining a hora In the 1950s, the folk singing group
at a traditional Jewish wed- The Weavers, and later Pete Seeger, re- years of musical greatness!
Wding? In my case, when I corded the song and, for the first time, 75
hear those first notes, the music speaks Americans were introduced to a sense
to my soul. It’s as if I am being called of what Israel was about: “A land brim- Experience our 2020
to the dance floor ming with tanned and muscular kib-
by some myste- butznik soldiers singing, dancing the Great Performers Series
rious and enig- hora and making the desert bloom.” It
matic sound that was an idealistic view of Israel which Behzod Abduraimov,
draws me in! ignored the malaria-infested swamps piano
Typically and tent settlements that housed Miz-
set to a kind of rahi Jews. It glorified the men and Jan 15 | Van Wezel
klezmer-style women who “fight and plant and love.” Orpheus Chamber
music, the cus- And its upbeat rhythm provided
tom of lifting the the perfect backdrop for the emergence Orchestra
Arlene Stolnitz newly married of Israeli folk dance in the ’40s. Jan 29 | Van Wezel
couple on chairs is exhilarating as well “Hava Nagila,” no less popular as
as often scary! At Orthodox weddings, a hora tune, has a less defined past. It Chicago Symphony
men and women dance separately, is thought to have originated in Eastern
whereas in Conservative, Reform and Europe as a niggun, or mystical musi- Orchestra
Liberal movements there is no separa- cal Hasidic prayer, in the mid-18 or Riccardo Muti, conductor Riccardo Muti • CSO Zell Music Director
th
tion. 19 centuries. Years later it emerged in
th
The hora, well known in many Palestine and was transcribed by famed Feb 12 | Van Wezel
Eastern European cultures, each in musicologist Abraham Zvi Idelsohn, The Knights*
different forms, and known through- who added the Hebrew text we sing
out the Jewish Diaspora, became the today. Gil Shaham, violin
symbol of the rebirth of the State of Hava nagila, hava nagila/ Hava Feb 25 | Riverview PAC
Israel and the foundation of Israeli folk nagila ve-nismeha/ Hava neranena, *Represented by Opus 3 Artists
dance. Performed in a circle with par- Hava neranana/ Hava neranena ven-
ticipants interlocking hands, the dance ismeha Pacifica Quartet
is set to Israeli music and was often Let us rejoice, let us rejoice and Orion Weiss, piano
performed in kibbutzim, often continu- be glad, let us sing, let us sing and be
ing for hours. glad. March 12 | Van Wezel
“Tzena, Tzena” and “Hava Nagi- “Hava Nagila” has been called “the
la” are the tunes we hear most often at Jewish party song that belongs to the Musicians from Marlboro
celebrations today. Yet there are many world.” Recorded by Harry Belafonte, March 30 | Riverview PAC
other hora songs made popular by the Chubby Checker and many others, the
Israeli Folk Dance Movement. A few song emphasizes joy and community
well-known dance songs include “Si- with its enticing beat. It’s hard to imag- Tickets sold exclusively via SCA box office
man Tov,” “Chiribim, Chiribom” and ine a Jewish wedding without it.
“Yismehu Hashamayim.” Other less- Personally, I look forward to my SARASOTA 941.225.6500
CONCERT
known but equally joyous songs are next wedding invitation, and especially ASSOCIATION
“Tarras Freilach” and “Naphtaly’s seeing the bride and groom precarious- www.scasarasota.org
Freilach.” ly hoisted up on chairs as part of the
But “Tzena, Tzena” and “Hava dance! Hopefully, it won’t be too long
Nagila” are the most familiar to us. for that invite. I can hear the strains of
Voices of the “Tzena, Tzena” was written in 1941 by the hora being played and can’t wait to
get up and dance the hora while I am
Issachar Miron, a Polish emigrant who
HOLOCAUST Jewish Brigade of the British Forces. Arlene Stolnitz, founder of the Sara- Valentine’s Day
wrote the song while serving in the
still able.
Celebrate
Tzena, tzena, tzena, tzena ha-banot
sota Jewish Chorale, is a member of
u-r’ena ħayalim ba-mosheva/
the Jewish Congregation of Venice. A
with the
Al na, Al na, Al na, Al na, al na
Holocaust, Genocide titħab’ena /Mi-ben ħayil, ish tzava. retired educator from Rochester, New Pops Orchestra
York, she has sung in choral groups
Go out, go out, go out girls and
and Tolerance Education Inspiring Speakers: see the soldiers in the moshav (farming for over 25 years and also sings in
The Venice Chorale. Her interest in
GEORGE ERDSTEIN community) the preservation of Jewish music of all
Do not, do not,do not hide yourself kinds has led to this series of articles
RIFKA GLATZ
away from a virtuous man (a pun on on Jewish Folk Music in the Diaspora.
HELGA MELMED the word for soldier), an army man. Featuring tribute artist
DAVID MILBERG Carla Del Vilaggio
GINETTE HERSH
1,912 Sarasota-Manatee
students learned about
the Holocaust from
survivors last year #NEVERFORGET
Performances are in
Listening to your heart-wrenching story, I started Bradenton at the Neel
to tear up. Your story of survival moved me and Performing Arts Center
and Sarasota at the
I will remember you for the rest of my life. Riverview Performing
Arts Center
“ ...The Next Best Saturday, February 8
–North Port high School StudeNt
Thing to Seeing
History is not just about events, Streisand Herself.” 3:00 pm - Neel PAC
Sunday, February 9
it is about human lives. -New York Post 3:00 pm – Riverview PAC
Learn what “Never Forget” means, before it is too late. Monday, February 10
Invite a Holocaust survivor to your school, synagogue or library. 7:30 pm – Neel PAC
To book a speaker contact Anne Stein
PLEASE SUPPORT ops www.thepopsorchestra.org
Holocaust Speakers Bureau Coordinator • luvhula@gmail.com The Get your tickets today!
OUR ADVERTISERS Your 941-926-POPS (7677)
jfedsrq.org THEY HELP MAKE Community’s
Orchestra
941.371.4546 THE JEWISH NEWS POSSIBLE Music you love –Musicians you know