[HANASHIR:2492] Gospel Dancing Prayers

[Red Sea Blue <Jess...>]

Its March. Spring is coming, along with our zman cheirutainu. Opening buds,
rising sap, children playing in the park. But musings aside....

I was just in New York also, doing various things, one of which was
attending the Ma'yan feminist seder. Quite a fabulous experience, the
energy and the celebration by over 500 women and some representative men
was as good as Hava Nashira, although of course very different. Lots of
prayer dancing there, in between maztzah and maror.

But the reason I am writing was more about how on my journey home I was
queueing up (standing on line) waiting to check in. Being a chatty kind of
person, and as I was travelling on my own, I made friendly overtures to the
woman in front of me. I asked her whether she had celebrated St Patrick's
day in New York and she informed me that she didn't drink on religious
grounds. She was Christian and very mellow. So we got chatting.
At one point I asked her whether she liked dancing. She hesitated and then
she said that she did, although she didn't 'go out' dancing. She said that
they danced in church. I said, what every week or just on special
occasions. She said EACH TIME THAT THEY GET TOGETHER TO PRAY. I was
impressed and slightly jealous. She was black Nigerian, on her way back
home via England. Maybe its a temperament thing. She seemed very mellow,
easy going character.

I play practically every Friday night at my shool and no-one ever dances.
We only started singing properly in the past year or so. If someone would
get up and dance I imagine some people would like, ney love, it and others
would be very shocked and might even find it disrespectful. Maybe people
are too busy and stressed, this inhibits movement. I'm sure we would feel
better after a little dancing and singing. Maybe I will just have to lay my
guitar down and dance myself.

If any of this seems hazy, its because I only landed this morning and I'm a
bit hazy.

love and Shabbat Shalom

Jess



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