TDAPS Notes 092707

Next few weeks: variety of different dance practices associated with Jewish American experience
Jewish American dance is too complex and various to single out certain dances
Dont care about conflict in Middle East, we will focus on dance, through the eyes of certain people

Religious, social, and theatrical dance that one way or another serve as a particular reflection of Jewish experience.
Jewish Americans are not homogeneous; theres no simple way to characterize Jewish identity unlike the Hopi
Indians.
Ways of characterizing Jews changes
Definition of Jew that we will use
o Narrow sense: Someone whose religion is Judaism

Leaves out a lot of people who consider themselves Jewish

However, even if they dont practice Judaism, they can experience Anti-Semitism
o Broader sense: any person belonging to a worldwide group that constitutes through descent or conversion a
continuation of the ancient Jewish people who were themselves descendants of the Hebrews of the Old
Testament

We will stick with this definition in the class

As a religion, Judaism has branches that anyone can convert to, so anyone can become a Jew
Hebrews of the Old testament lived in what is now Israel
Many people nowadays have a connection with that land in the Middle East though not everyone agrees with the
government
There are Jews who practice Judaism, others who practice other religions, and others who practice no religion
History of Jews: History of Exile
o Diaspora: physical dispersion of the Jews throughout the world 6th century BC
o Under Persian Empire, Jews were allowed to return and rebuild temple
Different Jews in different places have same texts but different cultures and rituals
Worldwide, there are many branches of Judaism (back of reader)
o Ashkenazic, Sephardic, Mizrahi
o The word "Ashkenazic" is derived from the Hebrew word for Germany. The word "Sephardic" is derived from
the Hebrew word for Spain. The word "Mizrachi" is derived from the Hebrew word for Eastern.
Majority of US Jews are Ashkenazic as are Jews all over the world
Ashkenazic traditions are most felt when people generalize about Jewish culture
Different branches of Ashkenazic tradition
o Orthodox, Hassidic, Conservative, Reformed
o Orthodox

Oldest form of Judaism, main term used before 19th century

Adhere to traditional beliefs, practices

Resist pressure to modernize or modify their practices

Generally, practice daily worship; maintain dietary laws; engage in intense study of Bible or Torah

Separate men and women in synagogue

Strict observance of the Holy Day; sabba (Sabbath)

o Hassid

First major splinter group

Engaged in new form of religious practice: singing and dancing to a mild trance state

Consider themselves orthodox; self-referred as ultraorthodox (we will call them Hassids in class)

Near divinity of their religious teachers

Mens practice of dancing themselves into a union with God (Hanna: Essence Possession)
o Reformed Judaism

Born in Germany; The most liberal

First reformed service in 1801: now over 200 years old

Effort to update Judaism; leaders of reform movement challenged ancient rituals; challenged other
stuff

Wanted to see religious services in modern tongue (not Hebrew); felt that men and women should
worship together

Okay to worship on holy day; argued that old dietary laws were outdated

Felt that diaspora was Gods way of spreading monotheism

The first Jews that came to US were these reformed Jews

o Conservative Movement

Formed in reaction to the Reformed Judaism

th

Mid 19 century

Attempted to find a middle ground between the strict laws of the orthodox and the more liberal
practices of the Reformed Jews

Similar to orthodox but a bit more flexible

Emphasized Jewish laws as a living force and learned to adapt it

Believed strongly in the formation of a non religious Jewish nation state

Saw religion as tied to culture

Judaism in the US
o First Jews to immigrate were Sephardic
th
o Mid 18 century, Ashkenazic Jews start coming; they came from places in world where Judaism was
modernizing

Therefore they practiced Reformed Judaism

o This wave of immigrants was very attached to the culture that they were forced to abandon

Engaged in folk dance of eastern Europe, especially at rites of passage, weddings, etc.

Among them were many orthodox Jews and Haseds

Already-present Jews sponsored settlement houses and community centers to ease the way for
new Jews

Sponsored classes and immigration help

Also social activities, social dances, dance classes, etc.

Used dance as an expression of their own particular version of their religions, history, and heritage
Jewish literature Bible was a constant in the Jewish diaspora
o Almost always presents dance in a positive light
Note: NOT all Jews are Haseds; Haseds are a tiny, tiny minority of Jews who limit their contact with the secular world
to focus on family; 100,000 Haseds out of 6 million Jews in US
o However, are an important branch in the class because dance is a vital part of Hasedic culture
o Hasedic dance traditions have been a major inspiration to Jewish choreographers
Jewish tradition to dance at weddings
Settlement houses were early training grounds for Jewish dance

Ana sokolow Jewish modern dance choreography 4left wing causes