Jewish Dance in the Hasidic Tradition, with Eli Benedict

The Committee for Yiddish Invites You to Join Us for An Online Yiddish-Language Talk With Guest Speaker Eli Benedict
Jewish Dance in the Hasidic Tradition

March 5, 2023 at 2:00pm EST (11:00am PST)

Please CLICK HERE to register for this free program.
Using videos, photos, and more, Eli will review for us Hasidic dances specific to weddings, Shabbat, holidays, and other occasions, with examples of Hasidic movements and gestures that are the cornerstones of the movement language.  He will also talk about the unique approach to dance of Hasidim who see it as a form of worship of God, or prayer or, in some sources, as having even more virtue than prayer. Hasidim use dance as a meditative tool to connect with God, and even as a device to purify the soul.

**This program will be in Yiddish.**
Eli Benedict grew up in a Hasidic family in Bnei Brak. During his ultra-Orthodox years, Eli was a recognized Hasidic dancer choreographer. Today, Eli is involved in researching traditional klezmer dance and Hasidic dance, and studying contemporary Hasidic Yiddish, and contemporary Hasidic culture.  He also manages the “Yung Yiddish” center in Israel and serves as Program Director for the League for Yiddish.