Dance for Kindness Flash Mob at the Old Station in Jerusalem

Picture Credit:  Jerusalem Vistas

Dancing has a way of breaking down barriers of bitterness and hatred, ignorance and isolation. 120 nations joined together via satellite with Jerusalem for a Flash Mob to “dance for kindness.”

For the first time ever Gaza joined in. The common thread that stitched these inspiring dancers from across the globe to come together was the character quality of Kindness.

Jerusalem Vistas was called by Adi, the choreographer, and our daughter in law.

“Jay, please come~We must capture this very special event on film and show it to everyone!”
 
Daniel headed the film crew as she led 500 Israelis of all ages in a dance celebrating...yes KINDNESS!

They danced to the song ‘Unity’ written and performed by the Solomon Brother’s of Jerusalem. The lyrics go like this...

There is a shining light in everyone of us...

Every person in this world is a diamond in the rough.

One soul, one goal, one love, Unity!

Join us. One forever!

Part 12~Hora Efrochim~Hora L'Agadati

The final dance performed in our series is called Hora L'Agadati. The name is derived from one of Israel's most popular citizens, Baruch Kauschenski-Agadati, known for bringing Folk Dance "from the street to the stage".

Baruch Kauschenski-Agadati was a Russian-Israeli classical ballet dancer, choreographer, painter, film producer and director. Born in Bessarabia, and raised in Odessa, he made Aliyah in the early 1900's where he attended the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem. Agadati went on to become a key personality of the Israeli arts world and one of the pioneers of cinema in Israel.

We hope you have enjoyed watching some of Israel's brightest young people in action. Regardless of what you may hear or think about Israel, life does go on each day~people go to work, they laugh, they cry, and our children dance...!

Part 12 of 12~Hora Efrochim~Hora L'Agadati

~Deutsche~ 

Bitte entschuldigen Sie die schlechte Übersetzung, sind wir nicht Deutsch sprechen

Der letzte Tanz in unserer Serie durchgeführt nennt Hora L'Agadati. Der Name stammt von einer der beliebtesten Bürger Israels, Baruch Kauschenski-Agadati, für die Erhebung Folk Dance "von der Straße auf die Bühne" bekannt sind, abgeleitet.  Baruch Kauschenski-Agadati, war ein russisch-israelischen klassisches Ballett Tänzer, Choreograph, Maler-, Film-Produzent und Regisseur. Geboren in Bessarabien, und aufgewachsen in Odessa, machte er Aliyah in der Zeit um 1900, wo er an der Bezalel Akademie für Kunst und Design in Jerusalem. Agadati fuhr fort, eine wichtige Persönlichkeit der israelischen Kunst weltweit und zählt zu den Pionieren des Kinos in Israel geworden. Wir hoffen, Sie haben genossen, einige der begabtesten jungen Menschen Israels in Aktion. Unabhängig davon, was Sie hören oder denken über Israel, das Leben ist an jedem Tag gehen~Menschen zur Arbeit zu gehen, sie lachen, weinen sie, und unsere Kinder tanzen ...! 

Teil 12 von 12~Hora Efrochim~Hora L'Agadati

Part 11~Hora Efrochim~Meng Zhong, China Dream

Part 11 of 12~Hora Efrochim~Meng Zhong, China Dream

Teil 11 von 12~Hora Efrochim~Meng Zhong, China Dream

Teil 11 von 12~Meng Zhong, Chinesischer Traum

Part 10~Hora Efrochim~Wonder Girls

Part 10 of 12~Hora Efrochim~Wonder Girls

Teil 10 von 12~Hora Efrochim~Wundermaedchen

Part 9~Hora Efrochim~Eastern Wind

Part 9 of 12~Hora Efrochim~Eastern Wind

Part 8~Hora Efrochim~Ukrainian Folk Dance

Part 8 of 12~Hora Efrochim~Ukrainian Folk Dance

Deutsche~Hora Efrochim~Ukraine

Part 7~Hora Efrochim~Ring Tones

Part 7 of 12~Hora Efrochim~Ring Tones

Deutsch~Teil 7 von 12~Hora Efrochim Klingeltoene

Part 6~Hora Efrochim~Troup Smiles and Dance

Being part of a dance troupe means that you don't often get to be in the spotlight, rather, you are a part of a whole.

In the first section of this video, you will see some of the children in the troupe as they enjoy a "close-up" moment.

The dance that follows comes from a Portuguese tune called "Smiles". It was translated to Hebrew and is sung by Chava Elberstein, one of Israel's most popular singers.

* A rough translation of the song is below the video

Part 6 of 12~Hora Efrochim~Troup Smiles and Dances

Smiles (Chiyuchim)...Chava Alberstein 

 If the sun is new every morning 

If the flowers are just a smile to the world 

If a rolling wave is laughing to the skies 

So why do we not laugh with them all? 

If there are circuses and clowns, 

If the children's laughter sounds clear and not far 

Laughter in the market, of the sea, of the school bell 

So why do we not learn to laugh? 

You should, you should learn from the flowers 

Do not skimp with smiles 

And the world, will suddenly look so good 

Better to dream and hope, to try just once 

You should laugh, you should live, you should love 

You should smile, its also permitted to be angry 

But be careful not to destroy 

You can weave a wonderful dream for a rainy day 

Everything will certainly be better, but for now 

If You can cry for no reason, you can also sing 

A man goes his own way and it is foreign to him 

And he is silent and the whole world is silent 

Suddenly in front of him a baby smiles 

And the whole world laughs and laughs 

And again the sun kisses the city with love 

A wave of light plays over a rock 

Shadows of light play over the train tracks 

What's so important  that we forget

It is better, you should learn...

Teil 6 von 12~Hora Efrochim Ein Laecheln

Part 4~Hora Efrochim~Turkish Delight

Part 4 of 12~Hora Efrochim~Turkish Delight

Teil 4 von 12~Hora Efrochim~Türkischer Honig

Part 3~Hora Efrochim~Eight After One

Part 3 of 12~Hora Efrochim~Eight After One

Teil 3 von 12~Hora Efrochim~Acht zu Eins

Part 2 of 12~Hora Efrochim~The Beauty of Youth

Part 2 of 12~Hora Efrochim~The Beauty of Youth

Teil 2 von 12~Hora Efrochim~Die Schönheit der Jugend

Part 1 of 12~Hora Efrochim~Introduction & Flash Mob

Hora Efrochim is the youth group of Hora Jerusalem Dance Company. Lead by choreographer Adi Gordon Rawlings, Hora Efrochim is one of very best children's dance troupes in the world. The prestigious Hora Dance Company has been chosen by the Israel Foreign Affairs Office and the Israel Tourism Office to represent Israel at International Folk Festivals and Concerts world wide.

Some time ago, David filmed the group when they performed a "Flash Mob at Mamilla Mall". Almost two hundred dancers, ranging in ages from ten to fifty years young, surprised shoppers and tourists on a sunny afternoon at the new Mamilla center, located just outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem.

In this first clip you will see scenes from the Mamilla Flash Mob that the Foreign Ministry sponsored and produced in the background, as the troupe performs the dance simultaneously on stage to the song Pitom Kam Adam~At Once a Man (Israel) Arises. 

* The translation of the words to the song are Below the Video...

We are pleased to present the first of our twelve part series of dances performed in 2012 by Hora Efrochim, at the Jerusalem Theater, for  the Jerusalem Arts Festival.

 Part 1 of 12~Hora Efrochim Introduction & Flashmob

Suddenly a man arises (wakes up) in the morning 

He feels he is a nation and begins to walk 

And to all he meets on his way he calls out 'Shalom!' 

Corn stalks are growing up behind him between the cracks in the sidewalks

The lilac trees shower down rich fragrance on his head 

The dew drops are sparkling and the hills are a myriad of rays 

They will give birth to a canopy of sunlight for his wedding 

Suddenly a man arises (wakes up) in the morning... 

And he laughs with the strength of generations in the mountains, 

And the shamed wars bow down to the ground, 

To the glory of a thousand years flowing forth from the hiding places, 

A thousand young years in front of him like a cold book, 

Like a shepherd's song, like a branch. 

Suddenly a man arises (wakes up) in the morning 

He feels he is a nation and begins to walk, 

And he sees that the spring has returned 

And the tree is turning green since last fall's tree shedding.

Deutsch~Teil 1 von 12~Hora Efrochim Einführung & Flashmob

Chanukah and Christmas in the Holy Land

Chanukah Candles

This year Israel was celebrating Chanukah and Christmas back to back. Throughout the country Menorahs were being lit each night for eight nights and children played dreidel while the adults noshed on sufganiyot and latkes. It is common for the Menorah and candles to be placed outside the house. Glass boxes are used to protect the delicate flames from the weather

Israel is a very diverse country~her citizens come from all over the world. In no other place can you stand in a street or shopping center and hear hundreds of languages and dialects being spoken by people who hail from the Middle-East, to China, Russia, the Americas, Europe and even Lapland. The  entire world is well represented in Israels' citizens.

Birth Place of  the Christ Child

At the beginning of the week, David traveled to Bethlehem, to visit the Church of the Nativity. Two musicians from Italy were also in Bethlehem to serenade the coming of the birth of Christ. The grotto was cleared and the two musicians sang their song to the tune of Brahms Lullaby . At this time of year, it was a rare privilege to stand alone, in front of the silver star beneath the altar, in the Grotto of the Nativity. With the soulful sounds of the young woman from Italy filling the grotto, it was a beautiful, meaningful experience.

At the same time, just outside the Church of the Nativity, in Manger Square, there was a "Rock to Bethlehem Celebration" much to the joy of the young crowd. Meanwhile, in Mevasesret Zion, a group of youngsters from the  Orot Ha Bama and Limelight dance studios performed in the Har El Mall. They entertained shoppers with Israeli dances, and of course something modern as well! The celebrations will carry on over the weekend throughout the country as our diverse citizenry is joined by millions of tourists from around the world.

From all of us at Jerusalem Vistas/Israel Vision, we wish you, our very dear friends, a most Blessed Christmas Season and a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Israeli Flashmob~Hora Jerusalem

Last week we posted the Flashmob at Mamilla Mall performed by the dancers of Hora Jerusalem, and choreographed by David's wife, Adi Gordon Rawlings.

The entire performance was filmed and edited by the Israel Foreign Ministry, and they have now released their version. Here it is for your enjoyment...

Flash Mob at Jerusalem's Mamilla Mall !

This past weekend David's wife, Adi Gordon Rawlings was asked by the Israeli Foreign Ministry to choreograph a "Flash Mob" in the Mamilla Mall. 

With her inevitable style, she gathered approximately two hundred Israeli Dancers from Hora Jerusalem ranging in ages from ten to fifty years young, and created this amazing performance to the song Pitom Kam Adam (At Once Man ~Israel~Rises).

Join David and his children as they travel to the Mall and introduce you to Adi just before the fun starts. Finally, watch as these amazing young dancers surprise shoppers in the cafe's, in the square and on the steps. The location is the bottom of the steps, coming down from Jaffa Gate in the Old City of Jerusalem.

This is the real Israel~up close and personal. Enjoy...