Dancing in the Streets (2/08/10)

In the last thread we observed how the Haredim are initiating ways to keep the sexes apart–separate streets! Sometimes I wonder whether there is a silent competition between the Taliban and the Haredi, vying over “The Most Distinguished Misogynist Community Award of the Year,” better known as “The I am Holier Than Thou” prize.

Many years ago, when I was in Jerusalem, I remember going to a pizza shop where I saw Haredi boys and girls playing video games together. Haredi community leaders did their best to put an immediate end to that kind of familiar but healthy socialization. I speculated that the Haredim are afraid that young men and women might start dancing in the supermarket aisles and streets.

Bear in mind the women already dress pretty modestly in that community. Married women are so strict, they will wear a scarf on the top of their wigs.

Like the foolish Pharisees of our previous thread, the latest fad in Haredi piety is really made for Saturday Night Live comedy.  Jay Leno would definitely have a field-day with this material.

Kudos go to my talented and good friend Yochanan Lavie, who wrote a nice frum version of the song fit for a Broadway musical.

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Apology to Martha & Vandellas, et al:

Calling out around the world
Are you ready for a freihlich beat
Haredim here and the time is right
For dancing in the streets
Dancing in Uman
Down in Jerusalem
In New York City

All we need is music, sweet music
There’ll be music everywhere
They’ll be shuckling, swaying, klezmer playing,
Dancing in the street, oh

It doesn’t matter what you wear, just as long as black is there
So come on, every guy, grab a bochur, everywhere, don’t be a slacker
They’ll be dancing, dancing in the street

It’s an invitation across the nation, a chance for frum boys to meet
They’ll be davening and singing and music swinging
Dancing in the street.

Philadelphia, PA
Brooklyn in NYC now
Don’t forget the Holy city
On the streets of Uman
Back in the USSR
No matter where you are

All we need is music, sweet music
There’ll be music everywhere
They’ll be davening, swaying, chassidim praying
Dancing in the street, oy

It doesn’t matter what you wear
Just as long as black is there
So come on every guy, grab a guy,
If this looks weird, don’t ask me why
They’ll be dancing, dancing in the streets

Way down in T.A. [Tel Aviv], everyday
Dancing in the streets
Na na Rabbi Schneersohn  too
A well-respected but deceased Jew
Dancing in the street

Don’t you know
They’ll be dancing
Dancing in the street (repeat)

Posted by: Yochanan Lavie (+ a couple of slight alterations by MLS]