$79.99
925
Sterling Silver Pendant with 18" Dancing
the Hora
Pendant
6.9 Grams
The National
Dance of Israel
Jewish Horah
The horah (הורה), which is somewhat different from that of some of
the Eastern European countries, is widespread in the Jewish diaspora
and played a foundational role in modern Israeli folk dancing. It
was brought to Israel by the Romanian settlers in the second half of
the 19th century and became the symbol of the reconstruction of the
country by the socialistic-agricultural Zionist movement.
It is usually performed to Israeli folk songs, and sometimes to
Jewish songs, typically to the music of Hava Nagila.
To start the dance, everybody forms a circle, holding hands, and
steps forward toward the right with the left foot, then follows with
the right foot. The left foot is then brought back, followed by the
right foot. This is done while holding hands and circling together
in a fast and cheerful motion to the right. Large groups allow for
the creation of several concentric circles.
In the early days, Horah was popular mainly in the Kibbutzim and
small communities. Later it became a must in group dances throughout
Israel, and at weddings and other celebrations by Jews in Israel,
the United States and Canada. The dance appeared in North America in
the early 20th century, well before modern Israeli independence,
brought directly from Eastern Europe by Jewish immigrants.
At bar and bat mitzvahs, it is customary to raise the honoree and
his or her family members on a chair during the horah. This is also
done nowadays at many Jewish weddings, following the Israeli
tradition.
The song Hora, sung by Avi Toledano, who represented Israel in the
Eurovision Song Contest 1982, is based on this dance.
