[HANASHIR:2530] Re: Dancing Prayers

[Meris Ruzow <meris...>]

Why do any decisions have to be made on whether we "shuckle" or stand still?
Why don't we just do what feels right.  New and "strange" things are only
awkward when they're new.  I'm working in a conservative school now where
things were pretty straight laced.   When I started dancing around the music
class and the kids started smiling and giggling it was funny, but then they
joined in and when their teachers came in to pick them up they joined in the
fun!   Whatever makes your experience more meaningful is what you should do
and the heck with the insecure others!    When I'm at temple, I'd do the
same thing!
Meris Ruzow
-----Original Message-----
From: DurlKare (at) aol(dot)com <DurlKare (at) aol(dot)com>
To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
Date: Saturday, March 20, 1999 9:13 PM
Subject: [HANASHIR:2519] Re: Dancing Prayers


>In a message dated 3/19/99 5:01:25 PM Central Standard Time,
Chazzzan (at) aol(dot)com
>writes:
>
><< Well, which is it?  Are we to avoid "shuckling" and swaying with the
>prayers,
> or should we sit or stand rigidly?  I, for one, vote for dancing and
>shuckling
> and swaying and whatever it takes to make this a meaningful spiritual
> experience! >>
>
>My teenage daughter attended a Pentecostal church as part of her
"comparative
>religion" studies for 9th grade Sunday School, and commented on how fun it
was
>with everyone singing loudly, moving and clapping hands and dancing around,
>and also asked, why can't we do stuff like that at the Temple?  Well, I
told
>her, in some places other than Nashville, they do.  Oops, hope I haven't
>offended anyone.  I did tell her Hava Nashira was kinda like that (everyone
>singing and feeling the power of the music).  Anyway, the lack of movement
is
>starting to affect me, too: at our community women's seder, we all joined
in
>song at the very end, but only one other woman and I got up and danced.  I
>fully expected everyone to join us and do a huge circle, but no one did.
>Weird.
>
>-Karen
>
>
>

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