As the night goes on, reservations disappear, to be replaced with a surge of energy. Giddy, high on happiness. And yes, some alcohol to loosen up. Hidden in coat pockets, disguised in water bottles and juice. But hey, if it works for you.
Op-Ed: So You Think You Can Dance
This Op-Ed reflects the other side of the coin, a different look at the same event. This comes in contrast to this mornings “Op-Ed: Whose Event Is It Anyway?”
There’s a solid wall in front of me, blocking me from the wind, keeping me warm. Bodies pressed up against me, in front, back, and all sides. Squeezing my friend’s hand to make sure she is still there. Moving, swaying, tapping to the beat, because it’s catchy, infectious. Head bobbing up and down, lips singing along with the familiar tune.
As the night goes on, reservations disappear, to be replaced with a surge of energy. Giddy, high on happiness. And yes, some alcohol to loosen up. Hidden in coat pockets, disguised in water bottles and juice. But hey, if it works for you.
Diverse, so many different people. The Yoelis with the curly Peyos, flat hats, fur hats, no hats. Lubavitchers with smashed hats. All dancing together, one big circle.
The hats change heads. Now the Lubav has the Yoelis hat and vice versa. Identities disappear, we are one, one crowd, one nation, one people, in G-d we trust.
And the dancing goes on and on. The energetic ones try to pull people into the circle, the ones standing on the wayside. But they are reluctant. To dance is to let yourself go, be free, one with the music, all inhibitions aside. But alas, not everyone is capable. Some, the outer shell is too thick to be disposed of, even for a night. But they come anyway, stand and watch, absorb. They come, because this is the place to be. And everyone is welcome. That is the beauty of it.
So you think you can dance – if we had a show off between the Lubavitchers and all other groups, we would win, hands down. Yes, we can dance!
I want to take a picture, capture this moment for all eternity. Swaying, arms linked, legs kicking in the air, flags waving, people dancing, white shirts and colored, black pants and jeans, bald heads and long hair and in between. Israeli, American, South African, Australian, French, British, Brazilian, all nationalities mixed in one, one common thread, we are all Jews.
But there are many photographers here tonight, plus a live video. I left my camera at home. And the greatest memories of all will remain in the heart, they can’t be captured on the screen.
These are but fleeting moments. Soon I’ll look back on this and say, I wish I took advantage more.
5:00am, walking home, don’t care what I look like, too tired, too tired, eyes closing, just want to be home.
Dance the night away, don’t look anywhere but straight ahead. Live in the moment, the here and now.
Here, and now, it’s 5:00am and my bed is calling.
This Op-Ed reflects the views of its author. It does not necessarily reflect the views of CrownHeights.info nor of its Editors.
A reader that wishes to make his or her voice heard on any topic of their desire is welcome to submit his or her Op-Ed to News@CrownHeights.info.
why the need to opinionate
Some will say fair and balaced.
Ill say unfair and balanced
Mendel B.
Wow, Thank you.
This is Real.
This is what it was, and always will be.
May G-D Bless you!
Chaya (C)
Go Altie!!!!
You rock! Thanks for seeing the good side of things.
A reader from Brooklyn Ave.
I don’t understand. You’re trying to paint a picture of complete achdus but labelling a whole group of chassidim “Yoelies” is not achdus and in fact it’s completely inaccurate. Not everybody who has langer payes and a streimel is Satmar. It really confuses your message.
Perspective changes reality
WOW – so this woman was at the same event as that guy, and it’s amazing how differently they viewed simchas beis.
I’ll stick with this one!
annynmys
you are totally right on
yael
good and right attitude.
Yael
Geshe
Baal Tshuva!!!
Zundel
This is Lubavitch. Thank you. A gezunten vinter. From someone who wished that he was there.
This is the stuff that will bring Moshiach.
facts vs. fiction
ye, really nice,
You paint a good picture.
Where was this exactly?
La La La Land,
the birds are cherping and the sun is shining,
we are all running in the sunflower field, holding hand and jumping up and down.
Give you point for trying.
Wishful thinking, but doesn’t change any facts.
Altie
I wrote this article, and no, I am not a baal teshuva. I am a frum from birth, and I was brought up right here in Crown Heights.
Reader from brooklyn avenue- you are right, I am sorry for that reference. I used it because that is how I always spoke about them, since I was little. Maybe it is wrong. Someone already pointed it out to me on my blog. Thank you for bringing it up. But that was not the point of this at all.
a mother
i havent gone in years and i will continue not to! We should all be ashamed of whats happening here! dont try to paint a nice picture, it isnt? get out of your bubble! was simchas torah just as nice for you? walking through the streets last night was a sad sight! this article could not have been written by a Mother! and if it was get back to me in a few years
a mother
i havent gone in years and i will continue not to! We should all be ashamed of whats happening here! dont try to paint a nice picture, it isnt? get out of your bubble! was simchas torah just as nice for you? walking through the streets last night was a sad sight! this article could not have been written by a Mother! and if it was get back to me in a few years
The real thing.
That’s what i felt too, great articale, open posistive mind. Thanks.
Beautiful!
You described the scene beautifully! You are a wonderful writer,I felt the moment! please keep writing- and don’t listen to then negative comments you might be getting! Just keep going! Thanks for sharing!
nos
this is right on no racism we’re all jews dont matter lubavitch satmar and belz all the
Chaya Mushka
I dont understand some of you, and no shes not painting a madeup scene. This is the scene it just depends how you look at it. The friedeker Rebbe taught that Hashem gave each of us 2 eyes, the right to see the positive in the other jew, and the left one to see my disadvantages and fix it.
In this crazy world as people we tend to look at the negitive and the half empty part of the cup but what is amazing is to go BEYOND yourself and look at it half full, look at all the good and kedusha that happened there. “ZE LEUMAT ZE ASA ELOKIM” As much garbage that you saw there is just as much of light and kedusha that was there. The holier something is the more klipah on its counterpart will it have. some of us just see the klipah and some of us see the kedusha. Whoever wrote this article is a pure neshamah that sees the kedusha in everything.
So may Hashem give us the power to see the positive, because at the end of the day you cant change anyone else but yourself! Go Beyond yourself because thats the greatest gift you can give yourself.
BREAK FREE!!
a friend
Go ALTIE!
Keep up the good outlook!
Very well written!
M
Altie
I wrote it. And I agree with chaya- 2 sides of a coin….
A mother- no, I’m not married. But that doesn’t change anything, it just makes me sad to think of how your kids will grow up viewing crown heights.