shula's cup: September 2012

For the past month Hadossa and I have been going to rikudei-am (ree-koo-dei--ahm) sessions around Tel Aviv--Beit Dani, the Tel Aviv University Sports Center, and Gordon Beach. Hadossa has been able to dance under leaders such as Dudu Barzilay and Gadi Bitton. We are getting to know the rikudei-am crowd since many people come to the same places repeatedly, like us. Beit Dani and the sports center fill up with literally 700 people or more who dance for hours and hours. The dancing starts at 8 PM and goes until 1:30 AM. Some of these people do this 2-3 times per week. They know hundreds of dances and have been dancing for many years. Their ages range from teenage to above 70 years old. Hadossa used to think she was passionate about dancing until she came to Israel and saw what dance passion really looks like. These people are amazing!

It didn't take long to decide to take our love for folk dancing to the next level. We signed up for Camp Bitnua, a rikudei-am dance camp led by Gadi Biton, the most famous rikudei-am choreographer and teacher in Israel. The camp took place in Eilat, the southernmost city of Israel on the Red Sea, at a lovely sport hotel with every luxury you could imagine on September 19-22, 2012.

On the way to Eilat we enjoyed seeing the Negev for the first time, the desert of southern Israel.

The Negev

This was a view from our balcony. The mountains of Jordan are in the distance. We stayed in the Royal Gardens Hotel nearby, which was also very nice.

We also had a view of the Red Sea from our balcony.

Beach in Eilat on the Red Sea. The city of Aqaba, Jordan is in the distance.

Aqaba, Jordan

Camp Bitnua had sessions for beginner, intermediate, and advanced dancers, plus concerts, comedy shows, special dance performances, contests, art exhibits, and all kinds of wonderful entertainment happening non-stop. I was amazed at how much there was to see and do. There was no way we could attend everything because these people never stop! We had to eat and sleep sometimes, so we missed a few things. But I learned some new dances in the beginner classes, and Hadossa had the time of her life.

There were concerts every night.

There were special dance performances regularly.

Gadi Bitton

beautiful folk dancers

I had to sneak away at one point and get on a boat. Hadossa didn't want to stop dancing, but I needed to get out on the Red Sea and look at some dolphins.

There was music blasting and my camera got just a little bit wet, but it still works.

dolphin in Red Sea

Red Sea

Some people on our boat went para sailing.

Red Sea

On the 2nd to the last day, Hadossa was asked to join a group for the dance contest that would take place on the last day. She learned the dance and practiced with her group twice. Their performance was really fun to watch and they won 2nd place! The people who won 1st place were a group of rikudei-am instructors who had been practicing for weeks, while the group Hadossa participated in was thrown together at the last minute for fun.

Gadi Bitton pointing out the young woman from America

the young woman from America

Israeli comedy--they are funny even if you don't understand the Hebrew.

the last show--saying goodbye--till next year!

The four days we were there went by in a flash, and we can't think of anything we have ever done that was more fun. I am so thankful we had this opportunity. Eilat was beautiful (and not humid!), the dancing was superb, and the rikudei-am crowd is indescribably fun and full of life.

Here's a video I made of the trip: https://youtu.be/AmBD0MnDrPU

Our overseas program took us to Jaffa on September 3, 2012. Jaffa has had a continuous population of people living within its borders and vicinity for over 3,000 years (and probably more like 4,500 years), which is why it never became a "tel", even though it is an ancient city. And though Tel Aviv is only a hundred years old, it became a "tel" because the Jews that founded it wanted to call it "new hill". Some historians think that Jaffa was originally founded by Japeth, son of Noah. Jaffa is mentioned in the Bible several times. It is the port that Solomon used to import cedars of Lebanon for the Temple. The area was given to the tribe of Dan as an inheritance. It is where Jonah boarded the ship from which he was thrown overboard. Because Jaffa is a naturally high mound, it has breathtaking views of the sea and coastline. The ancient walls of the city were built with sandstone, which is in abundance along the Mediterranean coast. Now the walls have been converted into store fronts and, of course, much of Jaffa has expanded far outside the ancient walls and blends into the giant municipality of Tel Aviv.

Shuk HaPishpishm in Jaffa

Avi and I finally agreed on a price for several pairs of earrings.

No, I didn't buy all of these! Just 3 pairs.

The Jaffa Clock Tower stands in the middle of Yefet street at the northern entrance of Jaffa. The tower, which is made of limestone, incorporates two clocks and a plaque commemorating the Israelis killed in the battle for the town in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.

This mosque was built behind the walls of the ancient part of the city.

The stone arch you see above this alley is believed to be part of the ancient gate of the original city.

This mosque was built into the ancient city walls. You saw into it from another side of the city block three pictures above. It is a very large mosque.