Let's always Hope for Miracles

We are almost ready; The Festival of Lights is around the corner!

The Holiday of Hanukkah is about light. The light that shone in the Holy Temple of ancient times as well as the light that dispels the darkness in what it can be a long,cold winter.
The eight days of Hanukkah also represent the light of hope, a reminder of Judah and the small band of Maccabees who gave the Jewish people hope-still strong today- that right can overcome might, as they fought against the harsh rule of King Antiochus and his much larger Syrian army.
Lights are shown throughout the Hanukkiah (Hanukkah Menorah), a reminder of the miracle of the oil that lasted eight days instead of only one, while the Maccabees were preparing new oil to bring light back to the holy Temple.

I love that this Holiday is about two sometimes under rated topics: Miracles and Hope.
I used to be one who didn't believe in miracles. In a world drown in technology; where millions of human beings suffer and even die from hunger, diseases, lack of access to health centers and education..how can we reach the concept of "miracle"?
Well..I don't know if this will be figurative for all; but I came to believe in miracles while being pregnant. I must say it may be something truly hard to understand unless having gone through it. Becoming aware that a new life starts developing where nothing existed before; to witness the growth and formation of it is just indescribable. Come to think of it: we are capable of bringing life to this world!
Life starts from the tiniest thing..and this is what I believe miracles are about.
A simple act can be as small in size as big in accomplishment. The minor deed can be a true miracle as it brings positive change with it.

Hope. It involves being optimistic, having faith in wishes being fulfilled.
Yet again; in this fast paced life; this is the word not to leave behind. Hope calls for bringing something we want to our minds, the first step into making it real.
When we are in a time of struggle,whether it is a personal one against life circumstances, disease or inner demons, or one for social justice; Hanukkah is one of many symbols that hope rises up in unforeseen places and in our darkest moments.

Wishing you much light in the upcoming days and rest of the year!

Sun, bring the sun
If my skies are full of clouds
I close my eyes
But the sunlight is within 
( From Or-Light )

Message in a bottle ?

Remember that song from "The Police"? I used to know it by heart; I am a big fan of Sting's work.
The idea of the message in a bottle made me think of how we, humans, long for communication and connection with others.
The beautifully portrayed survival of a man in the movie "Cast Away" clearly states that we need interchange in order to feel alive (even if it is with a basket ball).
We pretty much all know the above..the main effort is to find a way to communicate that is effective and positive for all of the involved.

One of the things I think it's vital to acknowledge is that many times we "imagine" what the other person is feeling or thinking. This mistake takes us to miss on reality. Good interchange implies being able to explain what everyone has inside. Personal feelings are not universal, we tend to forget that, don't we? :)
In addition, being clear at expressing what we need ,want and what our expectations are gives us a more mature rapport with our loved ones..even though I know it can quite a challenge.
Another angle not to forget is that sometimes, the other party we are trying to communicate with is not ready to listen or talk; he may still be upset, resented. When a person is open to exchange thoughts communication is more effective as well as having higher chances of being successful. We have to be patient even when we don't want to.

Added to the above mentioned; the tone in our voice can affect a conversation in a big way.
If we are calm our words become a link to our souls instead of being weapons that can hurt.

 I feel that learning to listen with an open mind, a soft heart and no judgement can take us to better, happier relationships. Maybe we need to drop that bottle and say the message out loud.
( I am still learning :)
Happy Relationships!

There are words from inside the soul like your glances
there's a sound of comfort to words from your lips
if you truly want to touch me, put your head down (on me)
if you're ready to touch me by now, speak your heart. 
(From the dance: "Dabri Elai- Talk To Me)

Family

This weekend I've been reflecting about family.
We had several days of spending time together due to Thanksgiving and it certainly changed the pace of our hectic schedules.
As our baby has been fighting a cold, we stayed home,watched movies and went on short outings more than meeting friends.

I am always grateful to have a family. A wonderful husband and the sweetest baby girl.
I am lucky enough to have two wonderful parents whom I miss and wish lived closer; I have a sister and a brother who despite being far keep in touch often.
Don't you think my family is perfect..ha ha! far from that. We disagree most of the times; my mom suffers when my sister doesn't call; my brother complains when my mom can't keep secrets; my dad doesn't like it when my mom kvetches over his motorcycle trips with friends; I get upset when my brother has a bad attitude towards my mom...Does any of this happen to you? :-)

I am well aware that many of us don't have their families at all anymore. Sometimes they can even be in the same Country or State and yet feel like they are gone forever. Now we always have a chance to create our families among the people we love. I have members in my life I consider family even though they are not related by blood; they are well rooted in my heart.
At times it is easy to get stuck to the ideal of a family...We wish we had that perfect support group like the ones on TV shows..Wait..it's been long time since I watched a show with a "perfect family"! Maybe because there's none?

I am blessed to have created a family as well, only then to see how difficult it is to keep the balance between responsibilities, disagreement, likes, dislikes, kids ( and how to raise them), TV, food choices and did I mention love and passion? :)
I guess that phrase " You have to choose your battles" comes in handy. The problem is having it at hand when needed :)

All in all, life gives us all the opportunity to have a family and even more to create one around us.
We just need the main ingredient : LOVE (maybe some patience too) and one of the most challenging things: saying what we need; telling them how we feel; opening our hearts.
It is all worth it.

Give me time, reach out your hand to me
Until we will discover the country together
I know the road is still long
But your roots are already in me.
(from Ata Li Eretz- You Are My Country)

It is never too late.

I got a note from a lady who turned 90 years old and decided to share some thoughts she learned throughout her life.
I thought they are the type of statements that are worth reading with a cup of tea (warm or iced depending on what part of the world you are reading from :)
I decided to translate some and then I got stuck with a particular one..

• Life is not fair, but it's still good.
• Life is too short to spend it hating someone.
• Your job won't take care of you when you are sick; your family and friends will.Keep in touch.
• Crying with someone is more comforting than doing it alone.
• Make peace with your past so it won't ruin your present.
• Breathe deeply, it calms your mind.
• It's never too late to have a happy childhood.The second time depends only on you.
• What other people think of you is none of your business.
• Time heals almost everything.Give it time.
• Don't take yourself too seriously, nobody else does. 
• Forgive everything to everyone.

And this is where I got stuck..forgive everything? to everyone? Come on! There are things that can't be forgiven.
I am one of those who had "unforgivable" situations in her life..only then to meet friends along the road who showed me I am not the only one.
What I guess I've learned is to look at the big picture. To face "north" and keep rolling. To turn the negative into positive and always learn from what happened; even if it feels it's very little.
Well; sometimes we need to repeat cycles until we are ready to jump into a new one..Have you ever found yourself asking: "Why does this always happen to me"?

I lived those moments of being too upset to come to my senses. I know it is not easy to get past them. Sometimes it is a matter of forgiving ourselves first ; making peace with whatever was so we are able to open new chapters in our lives.
Forgiving is a process and it is as healing as being able to say "I am sorry".
I love this piece from a "classic" in our folk dancing world that always talks to me..and some of my friends as well..

..Not to run away from my self
I have to be careful
To look forward
Not to get dragged
There are hard moments
The horizon is not clear
But I have to always believe
That not all is lost...
( From "Lakum Ve La'amod- To get up and stand)

Remember

A few weeks ago we were lucky enough to have yet another "Jewish Film Festival" in the Bay Area.
I love the opportunity to get in touch with international movies; they showcase different cultures then also different filming styles.
I come from a family of "movie lovers" and because Argentina looks up to the European traits; our movie theaters show quite a nice amount of Italian, French, German, Russian and East European movies among America. I grew up with all of those :)

I found out there was an Argentinean movie in the program.How exciting! "Anita"; the story of a girl with down syndrome whose mom dies at the bombing of the "AMIA" in 1994, the building that represented the heart of the Jewish Community in our country.
I bought tickets right away. My best friend from high school (whom I still miss and remember) passed away on that very sad event in our lives as she was working that morning. Her parents had deceased years before and she was living with her sister at that time.

The motion picture took me back not only in years but also to all those places I used to walk, pass by and share with friends and family...The AMIA was (and was rebuilt) near the JCC where I learned my first Israeli Folk Dance steps many years back..then also became a teacher and worked for the longest time.
Need I say watching the movie was an emotional trip? I realized that even though I've come to live without that special friendship my heart still hurts and my mind is far from understanding why there is so much hatred in our world.

The movie got me thinking about my friend's sister (whom I knew well in the past) ;where could she possibly be, what happened with her life..
It didn't take long to find someone with her name through Facebook. A few messages and a short while ago we reconnected.
Opening wounds it is not an easy labor; in the beginning it reminded me of how much I miss her yet also countless great times together. Losing someone who was truly in your heart is one of the most difficult things to get through. I am really grateful for re establishing communication along with finding out that the love for a sister/friend is what we have in common.

I hope this great love will help me forgive.
I hope she knows I think of her often and that she is alive within me.
And always remember.."Justice, Justice You Shall Pursue".

When you left, it was still raining
and I'm confused, I didn't understand..

How is it possible, how can it be
to suddenly go without a reason
the house is left as a violin without strings
like a redundant song ..
(From: Eich Efshar-How is it possible-) 

This blog is dedicated to the memory of Viviana Casabe and the rest of the people we lost at the AMIA attack.

Take the plunge!

There is this book I read to my daughter that I love..I brought it from Buenos Aires and it is the story of this fearful hippopotamus.
His family plays in the water everyday, yet he spends his days sitting at the edge of the pond because he is afraid of swimming.
One day he decides to walk around and find some friends he can play with..He meets with a group of rabbits jumping ropes..he gets so excited! But when he tries, he's too heavy to jump a rope..One of the bunnies tells him: "that's ok, you can't jump but you can swim..we rabbits, we can't swim".
As he keeps walking he finds a tree full of birds singing; he looks up and thinks it would be fun to join them..and as he's trying to go up all the brunches break and he falls.."that's ok says a bird, you can't stand on a brunch but you can swim; we birds can't".
Later on he meets eight monkeys playing on a teeter totter..and when he tries to play with them he's too heavy. Again the monkeys will let him know that he can't bounce up and down but he can swim..and they can't.
After a while he goes back to his pond and starts thinking about his family having fun in the water..Maybe he can try and discover the fun?
He finally takes a plunge and loves it!!

Last time I read the story it got me thinking about all the students I met through my teaching experience, and how many times I heard.."I can't dance", "I am not capable of turning", "I am not able to remember this sequence".
Sometimes we can't do a specific thing yet we can still do something else..And numerous moments we think we can't achieve something and it is our fear of taking the plunge the only thing impairing us from doing it.
Every new affair brings a challenge..the feeling of accomplishing a task is priceless.
I have vivid memories of some of my dancers starting their simple first grapevine (mayim) steps..with a "Am I ever going to do this right?" face..Many of those dancing beautifully now.

I am confident that we can use the "Hippo" tale for many more examples than dancing alone. We can attain things if we put it in our minds. It may take us longer than what we expect or want..still that doesn't mean we can't .
If you happen to be one of those who tends to stay at the edge of the pond I invite you to reach the water with one toe..maybe two..and slowly the rest.Wait..I am saying it to myself as well! I sometimes are too afraid to swim..shame on me! :-)

Joyfully shall you draw water
From the fountains of triumph
Joyfully shall you draw water
From the fountains of triumph
(From "Mayim Mayim" )

The week we give thanks

Wikipedia informed me that :
Thanksgiving Day, currently celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November, has been an annual tradition in the United States since 1863. Thanksgiving was historically a religious observation to give thanks to God.
The event that Americans commonly call the first Thanksgiving was celebrated to give thanks to God for helping the Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony survive their first brutal winter in New England. The first Thanksgiving feast lasted three days, providing enough food for 53 pilgrims and 90 Native Americans.
The feast consisted of fish (cod, eels, and bass) and shellfish (clams, lobster, and mussels), wild fowl (ducks, geese, swans, and turkey), venison, berries and fruit, vegetables (peas, pumpkin, beetroot and possibly, wild or cultivated onion), harvest grains (barley and wheat), and the Three Sisters: beans, dried Indian maize or corn, and squash.

How interesting that most of us who celebrate with family and friends turned this historic event into one of being grateful for the people who surround us with love, who we care about, as well as being healthy under a roof. 
I started thinking and realized that many of our Jewish Holidays are directly connected to giving thanks..We give thanks for the miracle of the oil (Hanukkah). We are thankful for being freed from slavery (Passover). We give thanks for the fall harvest (Sukkot) to give some examples..

Giving thanks is part of a process. We have to be able to seek inside us, connect with our emotions and come to the conclusion that there are positive things in our lives.
We tend to complain every day about all the things that make us unhappy; I don't know the reason why, but we seem to be prone to finding the negative at such a speed that we forget that every situation has a positive outcome..something we can learn from it. Maybe we learn to be thankful for those negative situations as well?

My wish is that this "Thanks-giving" celebration  gets stuck on us so we can find ourselves thinking every week of the  people and things we are thankful for in our lives..Now, the best part of it is to let them know! Don't keep it to yourself. We create change while communicating.

Hineh ma tov uma na'im
Shevet achim gam yachad.
How good and pleasant it is
For brothers & sisters to sit together.

Happy Thanksgiving!

No answers; just questions.

I am trying to come up with a dance related subject but today I can't.
My mind is wind up in so many things I can't seem to be capable to unravel the ball of thoughts..or feelings.
When I am stuck I go to the songs I love; because I always seem to find poetry that relates to where my emotions stand at a particular moment.

Since I am trying to find the school that suits my interests for a while I searched for a song about finding answers..but no luck so far. I may need to find out what excites me at the point of wanting to share that knowledge afterwords, needn't I? :)
I am making an attempt to find inside of me what can I do to make a change in this world..middle age crisis maybe? Anyone colligates with me I hope?

I went to read  the song "Olam Afuch" - An upside down world- which starts by saying:

Your look is so hard-hearted,
There is no more innocence in the world.
The wind has taken all the dreams
And with them the feelings disappeared. 
Well yes! This is how I hurt when I see us forgetting about taking care of what surround us.
But the the song goes on..
At the end of the night
there is still tomorrow. 

Which reminds me not to loose hope. By spreading our love one person at a time it should go all around and come back, shouldn't it? :) Well..there may be some detours on the way..but I am positive love finds its way back.

This blog is one with no answers..I am over loaded with questions. 

This may even be a not so articulated post; then my "life coach" tells me.."keep looking, don't believe, ask, experiment, know and look for what's best for you" :)

I guess this is it..the route is long and I have to keep walking..

"Darkeinu" -Our Path- is the song I choose to read now..and leave you with.

...With the light, we'll continue to go further
The road is still long
The journey is not yet over

It's not easy, our path is not easy
And your eyes sometimes are so sad
More blossoming fields are before us
More high mountains
With cool summits

All the good is still before you..

No answers yet no giving up at looking for them :)

Thoughts about friendship and belonging

This weekend I was lucky enough to get together with several groups of friends.
These are the moments best spent, aren't they?
I was thinking that the majority of those friends I met came into my life through dancing.

Now..it is funny how sometimes our dance community seems to have this "If you don't show up to dancing you don't exist" policy, that can make us feel left out or like we don't belong to the group.
The truth is that our lives get hectic; our partners may be into other"sports"; our babies may get sick; we may be out of town; our knees may be hurting (as well as some other body parts) and we feel torn because we want to be in two places at the same time.

I guess it's something that happens in other entities as well. You are "friendly" with a large quantity of people and friends with only a few.
The close friends we make while on a dance floor are those who we discover having other interests in common as well; similar stories or feelings about a particular matter; intellectual connections; paths that crossed somewhere in history; struggles lived with similar passion and more.

I am grateful for being a part of this dancing world in any case, that certainly allows me the opportunity to meet people from all kinds of backgrounds as well as places.
If you are new to this Folk Dance community be patient, I'm sure you'll discover one day that together with accomplishing some new moves you have a new friend to share the excitement with :)

Hand in hand,
If only you'll give me your hand
Hand in hand,
We'll march down the entire road
Hand in hand,
If only you'll give me your hand
A hand, if only you'll give it to me
Hand in hand,
Down the whole length of the road
Hand in hand 

(from the dance "Yad Be Yad"-Hand in Hand)

www.hebrewsongs.com

The light of the seven days

Together, here, with a small song,
we are all like close brothers.
The light of our good seven days
will rise with a praise song.
A candle for the Sabbath and a holy day,
A candle for memory and a candle for blessing.
The memorial candle is tearful like our eyes,
In this country that is happy and sad at the same time.

Another week passed..they go pretty fast in my world!
Another seven days of busy schedules, long phone calls, errands run, new babies coming to the world, some people leaving earth as well.
Trees have grown a little taller, the weather got colder, the days became shorter.
New business were agreed upon, new dances were created, novel songs have been sung.
I am so glad Shabbat has come.
Candles will be lit to differentiate movement from rest.
I'm signing off wishing you a restful, distinct weekend.
Shalom, Salam, Peace.

*The song is called "Or Shivat Hayamim"- The light of the seven days- and it's a beautiful dance as well that I still play in my sessions.
You can find all the lyrics at www.hebrewsongs.com

It's all about finding a fun partner.. and being one myself !

This week I was happily surprised by having different dance partners at the Monday night Israeli Dance session I attended.
I may be one of the few ones left (but correct me here) who goes to a session without knowing if I will have a partner at all; and still know that I am going to have a good time even if I only do the rest of the dances.
Anyhow; I did know this time a friend was coming and planing on doing some sets together, but the rest of got covered as well! How nice!

The interesting thing is that I am always wondering about the diverse leading styles; and being a strong leader myself, it's always fun to experience the connections (and disconnections) involved in partner dancing.
I know this is a "hot" topic between dancers; this is why I decided not to get into "technical" matters but to share mostly the thought that each of us has its own personal nature and it is undoubtedly rendered when in contact with others.
Israeli Dancing is unique in many ways; and partner dancing is no exception. We have thousands of pieces involving a wide range of styles: We do waltzes, rock'n rolls, tangos, salsas, jazz, cha chas and even some other styles we can't quite categorize.

The most important thing should be having fun, don't you think? :-) Oh! Come on Karina! As if it was that easy!! "I can't turn if you hold me so tight", "You should let me lead when you don't know what's coming", "You can't turn me twice if you don't tell me first!"..Or.."I don't really care if you mess up because that's what I do most of the time!" LOL :-)

Dancing is supposed to be the fun part of our days; the short while when we don't have to teach, manage people, sell our product, prepare dinner, finish reports..you name it.
Finding a balance with our dancing partners is as challenging as doing it in everyday life with our "real dance partners"..and dancing "life" together is a sweet endeavor :)
Even some of us long time dancers tend to forget that the reason why it all started was to feel connected to our roots, enjoy beautiful songs and meet other human beings who share our same love.

Next time you are out there in the dance floor try to relax; count how many times you laugh and not how many steps you missed..I love watching dancer's faces the most..Through the eyes you can reach the heart they say? Well..we say it in Argentina :)

Send me a glance, flow slowly,
this song is written for you

Another dance and I am alone, dance with me
You say yes, you say no, the words smash in the air
If you give me a hand I will not be alone, dance with me 

(From the dance Ze Hazman Hanachon-It's the right time)

www.hebrewsongs.com

I am my own challenge

I just came back from trying a new yoga class at my local Y. I like trying different classes; this one was late in the evening so I decided to leave Noy with our baby sitter and not bring her with me instead.
I got there a little earlier, the exercise hall was filled with people enjoying a Zumba class. After grooving to a Latin song ,they moved into a new rhythm..and Bora Dance (for the Israeli folk dancers who know this Line Dance ) came up. I smiled right away! But wait! This is not the big deal of today's blog :-)

Zumba was finally over. All of us waiting outside got in quickly and grabbed a spot, set our mats in place and smiled friendly at each other while waiting for the teacher to arrive.
I am always very curious to see who the teacher is, how she/he looks, the vibe I get from them and, let me confess my sin, being a teacher myself I am a little picky when it comes to liking teaching styles ;)

All of a sudden an annoyingly cute, blue eyed, red haired twenty-ish year old comes in, greets everyone while walking towards the sound system, hooks her i-pod, introduces herself and let us know that for the next hour there will be nothing but the present moment..(all of it with too much of a "young" lexical) and soft pop music in the background.
Oy vey! I thought ! After twenty plus years of practicing Yoga on and off; attending Pilates regularly as well..what is it that this "kid" is going to teach me? I was bummed in advance!

She started guiding us through challenging poses -some I can't remember doing ever before!- reminding us all the time that we have the ability to do whatever we put in our minds. She repeatedly said "You have the strength, you have power " "You are your own challenge and you know your body the best"  "Stay in the moment".

I just want to share that I deserved a kick in my rear because this girl with her own style, led a class of more than fifteen people beautifully; she engaged all of us and made us focus in all the moves leading to a bigger challenge. Very precise, to the point and aware of how difficult what she was demanding from us was.

Moral: We can always be surprised and be taught. Wisdom applies to all ages. There is no gain in judging by the looks. How would I feel if I were labeled by my students the way I did with her? I still have much to walk in the path of life.

Need I say I am coming back to class next week? :-)

Coexisting

 

This short video happened a little while ago at Santana Row, in San Jose,California where I was strolling with my baby. 

It was actually an Annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony to officially kick off the season. The theme for this year Event was "Love is all Around" celebrating Holiday Traditions around the world. 

I got there the minute the Israeli Dancers where entering the stage! Go figure!

I couldn't believe my eyes..which started tearing a little ( I need to clarify that since being a mom I cry more often..maybe it's just only me :) but it was so exciting to see young dancers moving to our traditional songs and so many different groups coexisting and rooting for one another.

Right after the dancers, a Kids Choir went up stage to sing highly enjoyable carols and many other groups were waiting to be seen as well.

I just loved the atmosphere while realizing there were so many different communities in the audience as well. Kids, parents, strollers watching and taking in the lights, the colors the costumes and melodies.

This is a touching example of how we can better the world with little things; on how we can all exist together in spite of being so different.

It is my wish that this small act will be copied all over the world.

Somewhere someone is singing
somewhere the song is overcoming
a new person opens his eyes
a new world wakes up

(From the song Olam Chadash-A new world)

One Land

Have you ever thought what defines you as a person?
What are the things; songs; smells; places that make you feel at home?
Many of us came from countries other than the one we live in and have our hearts split when it comes to thinking about home..

Lucky for me, it's not only my mother land of Argentina and the one I proudly reside in the present..but a third one as well! :-)
It is not an easy assignment to convey the feelings I have for Israel..and I mean it.
Arriving at Ben Gurion airport sets the mood for joy.
Walking Israel's streets while hearing the entangled language is an experience on its own..I love the odor that delineate the street markets and the sound of the mizrachi music played around them.

Israel has all the weathers and exquisite geography; historical locations together with emotional sites; great fresh food and friendly people who stay up late at night.
For Israeli Dance lovers there are hundreds of options to attend in any given night almost everywhere you can think of. For curious minds there are great museums. Hikers can experience Masada and be amazed by the views among other things. Jerusalem connects with every one's soul while discovering how observant communities live.
The list is too long to describe.
I had the amazing fortune to get married around Tel Aviv area which made that trip an unforgettable experience and a life bonus :)

The way I know best to describe this wonderful land is by singing and dancing all the beautiful songs dedicated to it and turned into meaningful dance pieces..but that's just me..I hope I am tempting you to go discover this soil of milk and honey which definitely hypnotizes the minds and hearts no matter who your God is.

One land, a dream ingrained
Even if the path is unfamiliar
Here I walk, ever attracted
I have only one land. 

One land, like a garden that blossoms
I hear its warm voice
I belong to it
and I listen to it. 

(from the dance/song Eretz Achat-One Land)
www.hebrewsongs.com

To care, share and dare..

We just came back from a beautiful weekend in Los Angeles were we attended a family Bar and B'nei Mitzvah.
At the end of the ceremony the rabbi dedicated a sweet speech to the boy and girl and said:
"I want to share with you the same three words my rabbi told me when I became Bar Mitzvah many years ago and that are part of a Jewish living: I wish for you that you will always care, share and dare".
( I thought that was so neat!)

Let's look at the basic definitions:
Care: Feel concern or interest; provide care for; be concerned with.
Share: To have in common, to use jointly; to communicate.
Dare: To be courageous enough to try or do something, to challenge.


The rabbi started giving examples for each word which ignited my own illustration among vivid memories.


Caring about our loved ones is not the only thing we can do to better our entourage. The earth needs us to be conscious of all the things we are doing that affect it..and it is now when we need to be concerned with it. We don't need to embark in complicated projects when our everyday lives are so busy.. but the very many little things we can do count as much.

When there's nobody close to you
I come to offer my heart
when the satellites don't broadcast
I come to offer you my heart
(From the dance Ba Lehatsiya Et Libi)

Sharing is an act that brings joy..and I don't mean only material things. So many people can benefit from us sharing our knowledge, experience and love..Sharing feelings is another way to connect and communicate what we need.Also, there's no better thing than sharing an activity we love with someone else..Is that why so many people start Israeli Dancing? :-)

When all looks lost, there is no more hope
Together, not alone, we will find an answer
We all are man, we are all women
We came to this world as a result of love

( From the dance Chagigaya)

Daring to try new things..to cross a new door can be one big challenge. To be courageous enough to talk to someone we don't know; to enter a class we've never been to; to wear an outfit we'd never think we could; to ask a question in front of someone we look up to become all positive after we dare to take the risks. Challenging ourselves keeps us young and awake through all our lives.

From where will we take the power
to go against the wind
to swim against the current
So we don't have an end
( From the dance Be'Ahava Uvemilah Tova) 

I dare you to try and accomplish all three words in the upcoming weeks :) 

Keep me posted! 

*Songs can be found in www.hebrewsongs.com 

Shabbat Eve

It's finally here. Shabbat upon us.
Shabbat is the most important ritual observance in Judaism. It is primarily a day of rest and spiritual enrichment.
The root for the word Shabbat means: to cease, to end or to rest...and in our extremely busy lives this is more than a mere challenge.

We drive while checking emails; we cook during the time that laundry is getting done; we order our food as long as we can keep our phone conversations going..
Then Shabbat invites us to take a real break..and even when we can't really drop our " regular addictions" we aim to get closer to the spiritual aspects of life as well as spend time with our loved ones and families.

Among the several rituals observed during Shabbat, I personally enjoy bringing new flowers to decorate our table and listening to festive music in the Israeli Radio. My absolute favorite though..is to bless the candles, wine and bread before our Friday night dinner.

A good amount of our Israeli Folk Dances honor Shabbat with beautiful melodies and lyrics..Soft steps, waltzes and turns makes us feel the exceptional energy this Holiday brings.
I chose one of them that I really enjoy to sign off for the evening.

I am wishing you all- no matter if you are observant or not- a peaceful, restful and spiritual weekend in any way or form.
Shalom!

A rose will blossom in my garden
At dusk, the evening will glow
In my window the doves will sing
And in my heart it's Sabbath Eve

 (from Erev Shabbat)

http://www.hebrewsongs.com/song-erevshabbat.htm

Be strong

I am multitasking- as usual-. Talking to my best friend who's having a tough work week; reading the song that inspired me to blog today; figuring out how to complete all the requirements needed to apply for school...and not even sure I can succeed at it; preparing Noy's favorite Mac and Cheese and thinking of my brother who's having some health tests done while trying to figure out what to wear this weekend at that family Bar Mitzvah we are attending...Bingo! I'm officially overwhelmed.

Please tell me I am not the only one who feels like this every once in a while, wait! Maybe more often that that?
On certain occasions getting through a challenging task can be very stressing. I feel pressure in my stomach; my face has a troubled look..and times I even go back to recall a situation that marked my road in life:

I was at the end of my College studies..it was actually the day of my dissertation. The excitement of getting to the "finish line" was more than just that since I had a trip planned to France for a semester; I was going to do an internship in several Health Institutions to do hands on work in Play Therapy.
I came fully prepared for the evaluation. I had to defend a paper I had written with some new theories and ideas.
Five of my previous professors were sitting at the examination room waiting for all of us to go in turn.

After a while my name was announced. Here I was inside this ample room.
My monologue started and after a considerable time one of my favorite teachers stopped me and started questioning some of my ideas..I suddenly realized  the tone in her voice changing, her bodily expressions serious and harsh; she started giving me negative input on my work..only without logical justification.
The exam took longer than usual..I found myself answering tons of theoretical questions, all of them replied with accuracy until the board decided to approve the test.

A friend told me weeks later when she heard one of our teachers say:
"Why would she have the opportunity to go to France without the experience WE have"? :/

I learned I don't have to forget who I am; I have to remind myself here and there that I am not only the woman who makes mistakes; forget things; makes wrong decisions but the one who is capable of many things as well. The one that never finds regret in opening a new door and taking the positive from every new experience.
This is my wish for all of us out there..when someone tells you "this thing you are doing is not right" it just means "that"; and not the "whole you" is wrong. Remembering it makes it easier to keep going in the look for new doors to be opened!

"Gather all your strength,
It is easier to talk when you get over your fear.
in spite of all, you understand that this is the way,
be strong my friend - be strong.
and you'll overcome."

( from the song Heye Hazak )

You are in my heart

I am one follower of this new TV show called "Parenthood". Being a new mom transformed me in a way that is honestly arduous to describe. It feels almost as if I was born again and put in this world to look at it with new eyes. Some of you may get a feel of what I am trying to convey :)

In any case, this show broadcasts a family with an Aspergers Syndrome son ( a high functioning autism spectrum disorder) and the many situations they have to endure day to day.
Most of my experience as a teacher in Israeli Dancing has been working with kids; together with my work as a "Play Therapist" in Argentina, I've had the challenge and joy of working with little ones dealing with different affections.

Numerous times I sat and programmed games, songs even stories to make sure every child feels included in ways we can all benefit from what each of them has to share.
I approach my teaching in Israeli Dancing for our young ones aiming to help them discover movement, melodies, rhythm, parts of their bodies. I encourage them to create in small groups, to team up and divide tasks. Imagine how many things can be done even when you can not dance! Music itself has a healing power; think of the amount of therapies that use music as part of their techniques.

I remember taking a course in "Dance Therapy" many years ago; the entire studio filled with people, many of them deaf..Believe me, the soul and motion coming out of those dancers taught me tons.

I now know as a mom,  that I am always trying to protect my daughter. When she falls I wish I could fall for her instead. Only then I see it; I understand she was brought into this world to fall and learn, to make her own mistakes, to walk life and experience it..and hopefully to have the chance to meet other children who will help her learn from what their roads taught them.

I encourage parents out there to be heart opened to all the abilities kids around you have in them. Don't guess that because they are in a wheelchair they can't dance, or that the fact they can't see will make it impossible for them to draw..Sometimes the most gifted human beings are the ones who were able to wake up their senses in ways we can't or didn't think of.

 I am leaving you with a portion of this dance I love..

God, guard the light of my eyes
Guard my children that blossom
                                 Look over them, and guard them for me
                             What is my life without them
                                      God, guard the light of my eyes........

                     ( from Ata Belibi )

To Arise and Stand..

Last night at the end of my Bodyflow class (a combination of Tai-Chi,Yoga and Pilates), the teacher said:

"I want to let you know that I am grateful for being here, for you coming to take care of yourselves and for being able to stay in health..I just lost a very close friend who wasn't in health and that makes me very sad".
Her emotions touched me deeply and my mind was propelled into a spiral of thoughts.
My first reaction was to text my hubby and thank him for allowing me to take my class by staying with our congested baby at home.

It only took a couple of seconds and there I was again..connecting dots in my head: dancing, friendship, health, movement, eating habits, willpower..My puzzled mind needed some formatting.

Countless are the moments when we feel tired, sick, emotional, lonely or just missing loved ones; and then we decide to put on our dancing shoes, our yoga pants, our cycling helmets and just go against the wind.
Those bits when we dare to reach out and take control are invaluable. We connect with our souls in motion together with other souls out there crossing our path.
Motion brings fresh air inside and outside.. imagine when those moves are joined by meaningful songs, by old stories, by the remembrance of someone..

Israeli Dancing establishes a relationship between our toes all the way to our hearts.. moreover it reaches out and in cases brings everlasting friendships, like it did with me. I am so thankful for it!

No matter what form you choose, award yourself the opportunity and joy of action, allow yourself to be surprised by what you can achieve; make your body breathe the nothingness of being in the moment.
Feel the equality of humankind and pay honor to the sacredness of all.

I need to get up and stand
The stream is too strong
I have to keep on going
Towards a new tomorrow
It's not easy
But there is still hope
Something else always turns up
And it is over.
( from Lakum Vela'amod -To Arise and Stand)
http://www.hebrewsongs.com/song-lakumvela%27amod.htm

My Ships take me wherever they want

I am looking at a world map and playing a mind game.."Can I remember all the places I've been to?"
I am trying to pin them with different colors..and suddenly I realized that "my dancing ships" have taken me to far more places than I ever thought !

I started dancing in Buenos Aires long ago when the mind could not even picture "Israeli folk dancers" across the sea; and like a dream, the swings and turns lifted me..the waves rolled me and I got an offer to teach at a Jewish Summer Camp in Pennsylvania..BBYO put me in touch with such wonderful programs and experience..I kept going East from my home town year after year..for more than 10!

A new set of ships took me to California many years later..this time for good.
Dance Camps all over the country were now a true opportunity to meet those "phantom names" I grew up with and learned to admire from my first dancing steps: Shlomo Maman, Shmulik Gov Ari, Israel Yaakovee, Tuvia Tishler...and the list was long!
Am I really going to see them in person?? :-)

My vessel stopped at several ports: New York, Chicago, Miami, Boston, Atlanta, Malibu, Ojai, London and  Israel.. Each site a new chance to learn; to observe; to internalize styles; to dream of what was behind each creative piece; to connect with people sharing the same love; to look at each other with those feelings of complicity and fulfillment at the opposite side of the circle. To find out that there are very many interesting lives behind those dancing feet.

And one day...knock knock..a new sailboat at my door.."Are you willing to go teach folk dancing in Lithuania"? Mm..wait! I have to go check my world map!!  Did you know there are Jewish Summer Camps over there as well? And they LOVE Israeli Dances! They say experience is the best teacher..I am so grateful for it !!

I know mine is not the only dancing ship that sailed and doesn't stop, I'm sure many of you, my friends, have been sailing as well..

She is not telling what happened to her by the sea
She hides the smile and her eyes glow
The imagination sails free.. is all she says
My ships take me where ever they want
( from the song Sfinoteha- Her Ships ) 

The tide that carried me to NY :)

I haven't loved enough...

This early morning I was "half awake", putting all my hope into that coffee cup that was going to keep me company all the way to my Sunday School teachings..
Rainy day after a long night of dancing at my monthly session, listening to a "positive parenting" show at a local radio station; I-pod ready in my bag..I finally made it to the synagogue hall.

I had a packed schedule for the morning..Kids from Kindergarten all the way to 5th grade were ready to have fun and some challenge!! (well, that is what I was hoping for :)

The first group to show up were the 5th graders..Happy faces waving and trying to remember if I was originally from Antarctica, Russia or France..they made me smile right away..but they didn't know that the real excitement was coming soon.. I decided to challenge them and teach "Hafinali" (line dance by O.S.) for the first time.
 I wish I videoed those faces right after learning, at the moment of listening to the music for the first time ! There was a feeling of cheerful joy ..feedback coming and going from their bodies to mine..

Those are the moments that make me feel all the love is in the air...and that I am not only challenging minds, bodies or creating different situations than in the usual classroom; but also letting them explore the world from another point of view.

Later on the Kinder gardeners showed me their power of creation by introducing new steps for a new Israeli song who lost the steps and could not remember them! And yet again..the fervor , the intensity..they warm my heart and remind me every time why I just "adore" teaching children..
Because they mostly teach me; they instruct me that without them my love is incomplete..

A portion in the song "Od Lo Ahavti Dai" translates:

There is so much to build and so much to be
And my love is just beginning.

Find your ways to let children teach you..and remember to see the world from a kid's point of view from time to time...it's pure and refreshing !

 Playing and being silly :)

"This is the moment" (Ze HaRega)

So.. even though my car is filled with 80% kids music and all I do in every trip is singing Spanish cute songs to Noy; it's been three days that I wake up singing "Ze Harega, Hine Ba'a Hasha'a" (this is the moment, the time has come)..the last dance I taught to my dancers.
I could not resist..I had to go look it up in the www.hebrewsongs.com database and there I was! (yes..I said "I" was and not "it" was).

It's been a while since I am struggling with "finding myself", approaching to my "real calling", that thing that I am supposed to do to really feel I am changing the world..and Houston, S.O.S...we have a problem!

I will never forget the words of someone I was working with at the time I was a youth Counselor..( I was about to start College and wasn't really sure what I wanted to do). After asking him his opinion on what could I be good at  he plain said: "Well, you can't be an Israeli Dance Teacher all your life"..Touche!

More than 20 years later (and a Degree in Play Therapy)... after trying many different routes..the one I can't seem to leave behind is the one I come back over and over again..the one that makes me "meditate in motion", the one that brings me closer to my God, the one that makes me happy..and isn't it that what it's all about?

Well..let's keep it real, Israeli Dancing won't pay for my daughter's College Degree..but it doesn't mean I have to stop it. I am thinking maybe this passion is in my itinerary..Movement, emotions, creation, singing (hopefully you are not too close to hear when I do it though :) seem to be in my course..

I am not giving in..I will keep singing to find myself:

And this is the moment
The time has come
What will the wind bring with it?

There are reasons for everything
There is a dream that never ends
At the end you will be happy..

 This is me in one  of those happy moments caught by Alex Huber :)

Listen well..feel your heart that plays for you in a happy rythm

I was dancing "Tirkedi" (from Hebrew: Dance) last night at Shirley's session (thanks for the request!) and I magically went back in time to my beloved Buenos Aires and when I learned that piece.

Many people have asked me how is it that coming from Argentina I do "Israeli Dances"..
-Come on..are you sure you are not Israeli??!!

Mm..Let me think! I was around 10 and I wasn't going to any Jewish day School or Sunday School..we don't have Sunday Schools like in the U.S. ; but we do have JCCs that are very much the heart of Jewish life in Buenos Aires..They have as many programs as you can imagine..from sports to literature; from art shows to music bands for teens, from movie discussion groups to..Israeli dancing!

And yes..it so happened. My parents wanted me to have "the Jewish experience" and I started going to weekend programs that were really fun. So much so that I would later become a "madricha" or advisor as they call it here.

But one day..I went past a room which door was opened..A group of kids were playing a game to some funny music.I tilted my head so I could see more..and I saw them dancing, doing the same movements, laughing and having fun..and I think that's when my heart started playing that happy rythm!

That was it..I had so much fun! I learned tons of kids dances, I experienced my first "mayim" steps, my"cherkessias", lots of turns and hours of creating steps to fun songs. I went from dancing weekly to twice and I had such wonderful teachers from whom I learned beyond steps..
They injected me with their passion, their love and sensitivity for those lyrics, for the meaning of each tale we were dancing..and without knowing..they were planting the seeds to grow something that so far has given me the chance to open so many wonderful doors!

 Here I am teaching at Sunday School in Southern California :)
To be continued..

Falafel Power

While in my precious 'alone' time this morning a.k.a. "shower"; I  found myself thinking of what's the excitement behind eating a falafel..some hummus or even my renowned Israeli Salad..
To my surprise, I realized that I am not excited at all compared to when I hear a song on the Israeli radio ! Wait..and much more if it's a song with a dance to it! (what a dork!) 

I don't know..you tell me if this happens to you as well..but there's a healing power in those melodies that run through my body and soul that I can hardly convey..even when I understand part of them (well..I've always been able to fill in the blanks with the most creative words..and you too, I know..unless you are Israeli..only then, you know EVERYTHING :)

Anyways..this blog is intended to be the exploring tool for the emotions (mine and maybe yours too), likes and dislikes, connections and other passions involved in Israeli dancing across the globe.

This week I have the recipe mix of: excitement, fear, anticipation and stomach ache I always get before running any of my sessions..I have the background video of what I'm teaching in my desktop ( sorry D.B. for having you dancing every 15 min., you must be exhausted after a whole week!) but I have a feeling you'll be happy when I come back with the report. Wait..the report will be here..you may have to follow it!