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Torah Portion
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Let Us Sing, Let Us Dance,
Let Us Be Thankful
of Simchat Torah.
In Plaut's Torah Commentary we are
told that there are 11 different Hebrew
words used to refer to dancing, suggest-
ing that it was an important part of the
ritual life of our ancestors. There were
victory dances, petitional dances, har-
vest dances and thanksgiving dances.
Even in times of mourning, our people
sang and danced to celebrate the
appearance of the new moon or the
ccording to tradition, the
nuptial joy of the bride and groom.
miracle of the crossing of the
Generations of social mores and
Red Sea took place on the
refined traditions have caused us to for-
seventh day of Pesach, and
get the exuberance and unre-
this is the reason for the com-
strained joy that only finds its
mandment, "The seventh day
expression in song and dance.
shall be a holy assembly for
We have relegated such dis-
you, no work shall be done on
plays to energetic hora dances
that day"
at weddings and b'nai mitz-
Yet, we are reminded that
vah celebrations, and we have
we do not celebrate the
lost the rhythm that glorifies
destruction of our Egyptian
God in prayer.
enemies who drowned in the
Yet, more and more con-
sea, for they too were children
gregations are rediscovering
of God. Rather, we celebrate
RABBI MARLA dance as an expression of rev-
on this day the divinely
erence and spirituality and
J. FEL DMAN
inspired song that Moses,
exploring ways to incorporate
Specia 1 to the
Miriam and our ancestors
ritual movement and dancing
Jewish News
sang after their miraculous
into their worship services.
crossing of the Sea of Reeds.
Although it may seem for-
There is a midrash that teaches,
eign to some of us, this development is
"From the day when the Holy One,
not merely a trendy fad. It is a return to
Blessed be God, created the world until
our roots; a revival of our ancient custom.
the moment that the sea was divided
During this season of Pesach, we are
for Israel, no human being had ever
commanded to perceive ourselves as
sung God's praises."
part of this ancient drama, to imagine
When the Israelites stood by the sea,
that we personally came forth out of
they burst into song. Then God said, 'It
Egypt. Just as Moses, Miriam and the
is for this moment that I have been
children of Israel sang and danced as an
waiting.' ... At that moment, all the
expression of awe and thankfulness for
glory of heaven was revealed to the chil-
the miracles God wrought for our peo-
dren of Israel. Even a maidservant saw
ple at the Red Sea, we too should sing
what was denied to Isaiah, Ezekiel and
and dance to glorify God.
the other prophets. Each one pointed
Without restraint or inhibitions, let
with his finger and exclaimed; "This is
us worship God with all our body and
my God and I will glorify God."
soul; let us take up our timbrels and
They did not only sing at the edge of
join our ancestors in spirited, exuberant
the sea; their exuberance burst into
prayer-dance. Let our voices join
dancing as, "Miriam the prophetess,
together in a chorus of gratitude for the
Aaron's sister, took a timbrel in her
blessings that are ours. We have wit-
hand and all the women went out after
nessed a miracle — let's dance! ❑
her in dance with timbrels." Dancing
and singing were their way of glorifying
God and expressing their irrepressible
joy at their wondrous deliverance.
Dancing was not for the women
How can we incorporate into our
alone; centuries later, King David
Passover
celebrations a reminder of
would dance with joy as the Ark of
our
ancestors'
joy at crossing the
the Covenant was brought to
Red
Sea?
Can
dance be a form of
Jerusalem, just as we dance with our
prayer? If we wish to rediscover
sacred scrolls during our celebration
dance as a mode of worship, how
Marla J. Feldman is the assistant direc-
and where can we incorporate
dance into our rituals and prayer
tor of the Jewish Community Council of
services?
Metropolitan Detroit and executive
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SARA TUGMAN BATS CHABAD TORAH CENTER
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MYSTICISM 101 in 2001:
A JOURNEY INTO KABALLAH
Sundays in April & May (beginning April 22nd)
at the
TORAH CENTER
5595 West Maple Road • West Bloomfield
Conversations
director of the Michigan Board of
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11:00 a.m.
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lecturer: Rabbi Elimelech Silberberg
lecturer: Rabbi Avraham Wineberg
Jewish Mysticism offers unparalleled insight into the mysteries of life. This
course will lead you on a journey into the self and the world around us. What is
the purpose of man? What is the purpose of Creation? How does an infinite G-d
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