Chicago Israeli Dancing - Live And Virtual!!!

ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 21ST WE ARE AT BETH EMET AND ON ZOOM
(see below for a new approach we will try for our partner sets)
7:30PM - 11:30 CENTRAL!!!
Congregation Beth Emet, 1224 Dempster Street, Evanston, IL
or in your living room 😁😁😁 MAYBE!!! (SEE BELOW)
NEW Zoom Link
NEW Zoom ID: 867 8010 0439  PSWD = 376030
Direct Paypal Link For Contributions

Click Here To Enter Your Requests (new link)
(see more about this below)




                             

last updated on 10/20/21...

*** OUR INDOOR SESSIONS ARE OPEN ONLY TO THOSE WHO ARE FULLY VAXED AND MASKED.  BEFORE YOU COME, PLEASE SEND A PHOTO OF YOUR VACCINATION CARD TO PHIL AT: philip_b_moss@hotmail.com or via my whatsapp at +1 312 519 8669.  Many of you have already sent me your cards.  Thanks so much.  The rest of you, keep them coming. 


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***VERY IMPORTANT!!! FOR THE ZOOM YOU MUST ENTER NAME AND LOCATION WHEN JOINING TO BE ADMITTED FROM THE WAITING ROOM**

Please Click Here To Read Below About New Security Measures

(THERE ARE IMPORTANT NEW THINGS YOU NEED TO DO TO ENTER THE ZOOM!!!)

Most recent newsletters: Newsletter from 10/20/21

About this website:
In this tab:
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Some Comments From Phil

Hey all. 

Well, Machol Merkaz 2021 is now in the books.  What a fantastic weekend it was!  My deepest thanks to my team, the guest teachers, and all the attendees.  Wow, just wow.  Here are a few pics that give you the general idea:


THE DANCES

SURVIVORS AT 6:30AM


RECOGNITION GIFTS FOR PHIL AND PENNY FROM THE CID LIVE AND VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES


Courtesy of Ophir...

Phil's Guide to Running the Best Possible Zoom Session

All the great secrets, behind the scene tricks, and other how-to ways to run a successful and enjoyable virtual Harkada

Online Harkadot may seem like an easy task to handle but are actually a challenging feat.  For the many who wondered about this, the Israeli Dancing Intervention Outreach Therapy Service team researched and investigated this topic, and is delighted to present this useful guide to you.

1. Have Penny, whether she is ready, willing, or not, do an opening set.

2. Set up secret links and passwords for the session, then post them all over social media.

3. Have at least one Markid from Europe/Israel teach their new dance at 3:30 a.m. their local time.

4. Employ an army of computer scientists, graphic designers, writers, photographers, and errand runners who are ready to leap into action at a moment's notice.

5. Use authority symbols such as a glorious mustache, a barrister wig, and a no-nonsense voice to keep everyone in line.

6. Any set leaders unfortunate to be stricken with Covid must be ready to return to duty as soon as their temperature breaks.

7. Upgrade your internet service to rival the speed of the USS Enterprise's computer.

8. Engage in regular comic relief banters with La Mona to demonstrate your sense of humor.

9. Have Penny, whether she is already asleep or almost there, do a closing set.

10. Do all this sitting down, without taking so much as a single dance step.


THE PLAN: CID LIVE/VIRTUAL  As you know, Thursday night CID Live and in person is back at Congregation Beth Emet. We started on started ON JUNE 24TH!!!  And we zoomed too (more below about that).  Join us on October 21 at Beth Emet.   We will zoom too.

(Go to the Dances Taught Tab to see videos from last week.)

Here is the teaching plan for this week (all review):

Shemesh Tikanes - circle Gadi Bitton & Dror Davidi video

Ulai Hayom - circle - Tamir Shalev video

Tel Aviv Ze Ani Ve'at - partner Eran Bitton & Tamir David video

Chatzi Spanioli Chatzi Teimani - partner - Tamir Shalev video

7:30 - 9PM: circles/lines (including teaching)  Led by Penny, the first part will be beginners focused.  At some point later in that session, maybe around 8:15 we'll teach a circle dance or two intended for the general repertoire.

9-11PM:  mixed partners/circles sets.  We'll teach one or two partner dances, some time after 9, followinig some number of circle dances  (SEE BELOW FOR OUR EXPERIMENT FOR PARTNER ROTATION)

11-11:30PM: ending partners

We plan to continue to broadcast on zoom as long as people want to join and support us.  If things work out, we will have guest leaders do some short sets sprinkled in.  We are also able to have remote people show up on the big screen in our room!  We hope to maintain the wonderful connections we have made over the past year to the extent we can.  This is a work in progress.  We'll see where it goes.  For now expect mostly a broadcast with some interactivity too if we can. 

OUR INDOOR SESSIONS ARE OPEN ONLY TO THOSE WHO ARE FULLY VAXED.  BEFORE YOU COME, PLEASE SEND A PHOTO OF YOUR VACCINATION CARD TO PHIL AT: philip_b_moss@hotmail.com or via my whatsapp at +1 312 519 8669.  Many of you have already sent me your cards.  Thanks so much.  The rest of you, keep them coming. 

AS OF THIS WRITING (and this could change at any moment), WE ARE REQUIRED TO MASK EVERYWHERE IN THE SYNAGOGUE!!!   IT IS REQUIRED OUTSIDE THE DANCE ROOM TOO!!! We are permitted to have food, but only pre-packaged.

COST: $15 on non-party nights  (our costs have gone up significantly)  Add a few more bucks on party nights please.

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARRIVE - Enter the building from the parking lot on the west side of the building.  Ring the bell and wait to be buzzed in to the inner door.  At that point please identify yourself as a dancer and you will be admitted to the building.  Please go straight ahead and then down the stairs to the Weiner Room, our dance space (and adjacent to the washrooms we use.)  PLEASE DO NOT AT ANY TIME GO TO ANY OTHER PART OF THE BUILDING. 

IF YOU ARRIVE AFTER 10:30 WE MAY NOT NOTICE YOU AND BE ABLE LET YOU IN.  IF THAT HAPPENS, TRY TEXTING OR WHATSAPPING PHIL AT 312.519.8669, AND PLEASE BE PATIENT
Stay tuned for further information.  Can't wait be together with everyone in our dance home!



Chicago Israeli Dancing - Special Edition: Partner Dancing Inclusiveness - Experimenting With A Format Change

Hey everyone.  This section is devoted to a format change experiment that Penny and I will implement this coming Thursday regarding partner sets.

As we all know, Chicago Israeli Dancing, along with most of the rest of the Israeli dance world, has been struggling for years with how to successfully be inclusive when it comes to the partner parts of our harkadot.  The relative shortage of men, while not unique to us, creates a situation where there are always some number of women who would prefer to participate with a male partner, but who do not have one.  What to do?

Other dance forms such as Barn, Square, Contra, and Salsa as examples, have addressed this issue in various ways, sometimes having women in "the male role," sometimes doing gender-neutral things, partner rotation, etc.  We have tried partner rotation in the past, without much success.

But Penny and I have decided to try a form of partner rotation again, with some tweaks to see if it we can make it work better this time.  The objective of course is inclusiveness and keeping more people involved more of the time.

So here is the tentative plan, which will take place starting after 9PM.  After the partner teaching, we will mix circle and partner sets like we always do.  But starting with the first partner set following teaching, after each dance in that set, we will request the men to rotate to the next spot in the circle to dance with the next available woman.  (Those who choose to stay with their partner are welcome to do so - this is not something we are requiring).  But for this to work, women without partners should intersperse themselves around the circle rather than dancing next to each other and the men need to move quickly.  Most of the men  hopefully will be willing to be community-minded and agree to rotate.

Our thought is to do this for the first two sets.  Set number 3, (NOT SET 2) will be the review of the dances from the teaching set.  (We will not ask for rotation during that set, because we want to give people the best chance to reinforce what they learned during teaching).

After set 3, for the remainder of the short partner sets, we will request rotation like we did for sets 1 and 2.  When we get to ending partners, we will do that set as usual, without requesting rotation.

We are requesting your help, patience and cooperation to see if we can make things better for all.  And of course, following this grand experiment, we'll look forward to your comments and suggestions.

See you on the dance floor,

Phil and Penny

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Oh, and you can still order your Machol Merkaz 2021 Tshirts!


This iconic locator mark takes on new meaning for us this year as we gather to dance together on October 7-10, 2021, at Machol Merkaz. We have waited two long years to dance together again. The Machol Merkaz 2021 dance camp t-shirt —“WE ARE HERE—DANCE! BETTER TOGETHER” celebrates that at long last, we will be dancing face-to-face as one community.

In spite of the pandemic, or perhaps because of it, truly miraculous connections we made. We “danced virtually anywhere” during the pandemic thanks to the love of our community and the idea, hard work, and dedication of Phil Moss and other dance leaders around the world who alleviated the forced isolation which affected all of us.  The silver lining that emerged from this experience is that we are now interconnected as a global Israeli dance community in a way we could not have imagined.  We now know people from all over the world who we probably would never have met but who share our love—our passion— for Israeli dance.  That is truly a blessing.

But although dancing virtually kept us connected, helped relieve our isolation, and kept us moving, Israeli dance is meant to be done together.  So now, we take nothing for granted but we move forward with optimism. Because that is what we do—that is what we have always done. Your purchase of a Machol Merkaz 2021 t-shirt will help us celebrate being together while simultaneously supporting Machol Merkaz 2021 scholarships.  We are BETTER TOGETHER!

ORDER HERE
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Chicago Israeli Dancing WhatsApp Group
I have started to use our WhatsApp Group, Chicago Israeli Dancing, more frequently - especially for time-critical communications.  As an example, if we are able to dance outside, I will post the info there and will provide updates as needed.  Chicago folks especially, I strongly encourage you to join the group.  Of course, if you are not on WhatsApp yet, this is a prerequisite for joining the group.  Once you are on WhatsApp, here is your invitation to join the group WhatsApp Invitation
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LAST WEEK 10/14 (AND  ZOOM RECORDINGS)

The fun continued last week both live and on Zoom and at Beth Emet.  It is so great to be able to dance in person together again. 

Again thanks again to those from all over who joined us on Zoom.  Many people logged in yet again.  It was so great to see you, display you on the big screen in the room, and interact with you. I truly hope that those of you who cannot dance with us physically in Chicago will continue to be with us in the zoom.  Wishing you all health, safety and happy dancing!

We are taking a little break from remote leadership, but it will return!

Also, to keep the zoom going, WE NEED SOME FINANCIAL SUPPORT.  Thanks to those who have done just that.  Here is how to help: 

PayPal Direct Paypal Link or Chase Quickpay (Zelle) (philip_b_moss@hotmail.com) or Venmo (PhilipBMoss - phone last 4: 8669)

Enjoy these recordings from last week. 😀😀😀 

Speaker View
Gallery View

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Report on Episode 6 of La Mona Myr's Riku meshuGAME on Saturday July 24. with new Challengers Jake Altholtz and Marcelo Marianoff, taking on La Mona and Patty Colensky!!!

Congratulations to La Mona, Patty, Jake and Marcelo who all were fantastic in Epsiode 6.  We look forward to the return of all three of La Mona's guests for the Challenge of the Champions.  Here are the recordings:

Episode 6 Speaker View   Episode 6 Gallery View 

Report on May 22nd Episode 5 of La Mona Myr's Riku meshuGAME With Challengers Ilai Szpiezak and Naomi Finkelstein from London vs. La Mona and Alberto Zirlinger!!!

(LOOK FOR EPISODE 6 WITH GUESTS MARCELO MARIANOFF, JAKE ALTHOLZ and PATTY COLENSKY ON JULY 24.  GONNA BE SERIOUSLY CRAZY 😂😂😂)

Congratulations to La Mona, Alberto, Ilai and Naomi who all were fantastic in Epsiode 5.  We look forward to the return of all three of La Mona's guests for the Challenge of the Champions.  Here are the recordings:
Episode 5 Speaker View   Episode 5 Gallery View 

Report on Episode 4 and Report on Episode 3 of La Mona Myr's Riku meshuGAME

Congratulations to Tamir and La Mona who both did a great job on Episode 4.  See more below including recordings.

The official results are in.  Tamir dominated and has qualified to return for the Challenge of the Champions (whenever that happens).  Check out these recordings for yourself to enjoy the fun:  Episode 4 Speaker View   Episode 4 Gallery View
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Coming Attractions -    Machol Merkaz, Dance Fitness With Penny, Chile Rokedet (CANCELLED)




More to come

In this section:


Other Stuff/Announcements/Shout Outs




Chicago Israeli Dancing – Live and Virtual will continue on Thursday nights under the direction of Phil Moss and Penny Brichta.  The times will remain the same, (7PM-11:30PM Central).  See above for the format.
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Courtesy of David Karger, We Are Using His New Request App
Chicago Israeli Dancing is using a new app for making Israeli Dance requests, courtesy of David Karger. Thanks David!  The app runs from your browser.  You don't need to download anything.  All you have to do is follow the link below.  Go ahead and enter your requests for this week's September 23rd session. We will try to incorporate some into this week's playlist.

It would help us if you would enter your requests a couple of days before the session, but we'll be monitoring them. Here is the link:  David Karger's Request App
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Dances Taught at Gvanim 2021

haboker ya'ale - Danielle Shkop
hireni mekabel - Yaron Elfassy
hata'am hayashan - Chen Shporen & Michael Barzilai
la bohem - Shani Asor & Gadi Bitton partner
hashabbat sheli - Rafi Ziv cir
pashut anashim - Nurit Melamed
gam ani - Michael Barzilai
nesicha sheli - Tamir Shalev partner
batachana - Tamir David
hashemesh - Shmulik Gov Ari
zricha - Daniela Welsh
besties - Chen Shporen line

Origins Of Israeli Dance - The Yemenite Step

If you haven't yet seen this 10 minute video by Shmulik Gov-Ari, I strongly encourage you to check it out.  He did a great job and it is very informative.  Shmulik Video
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Looking forward to seeing you all Thursday night.
Be safe
L'shalom
Phil
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Please check out this link to the Adverts section.  Aura Levin Lipski has a new place for you to post information about your business.  And there iis other cool stuff there too.

This week's shout outs:



 What you Need to Know About The Virtual Session (10/21/21)

LOGGING IN
NEW SECURITY MEASURES: Please update to the latest version of Zoom.

Effective immediately, we are using a new zoom link, or meeting ID and pswd.  But before you try to enter, please make sure that when you log in, you enter your name and location.  You will be placed in the waiting room, but you will only be admitted if we can verify your identity.

With major thanks to Aaron Alpert, if you need help in figuring out how to enter the right information (which you must do before you actually try to join the Zoom), please go to the following link, which he prepared for Zoom Cali.  But the same principles apply for us.  Zoom Help Doc

If you find yourself stuck in the waiting room, you can reach out to Phil via WhatsApp. (info below in the Our WhatsApp Group section)

 zoom link Or if you log in from the app, Meeting ID: 867 8010 0439  PSWD = 376030

THE PLAN: CID LIVE/VIRTUAL  As you know, Thursday night CID Live and in person is back at Congregation Beth Emet. We started on started ON JUNE 24TH!!!  And we zoomed too (more below about that).  Join us on October 21 at Beth Emet.   We will zoom too.

(Go to the Dances Taught Tab to see videos from last week.)

Here is the teaching plan for this week (all review):

Shemesh Tikanes - circle Gadi Bitton & Dror Davidi video

Ulai Hayom - circle - Tamir Shalev video

Tel Aviv Ze Ani Ve'at - partner Eran Bitton & Tamir David video

Chatzi Spanioli Chatzi Teiimani - partner - Tamir Shalev video

7:30 - 9PM: circles/lines (including teaching)  Led by Penny, the first part will be beginners focused.  At some point later in that session, maybe around 8:15 we'll teach a circle dance or two intended for the general repertoire.

9-11PM:  mixed partners/circles sets.  We'll teach one or two partner dances, some time after 9, followinig some number of circle dances  (SEE BELOW FOR OUR EXPERIMENT FOR PARTNER ROTATION)

11-11:30PM: ending partners

A few zoom reminders:

·       open the chat window as soon as you get in the room so you can reach out publicly and/or privately.  And enable yourself for closed captioning.  We post the dances being played both in CC and the chat...

·       please please please open your video if at all possible.  So much of this whole endeavor is about community and being togethe Even if you don't dance, it is way better when we can all see each other.

LOGIN PROBLEMS

If you can't log in, go to the end of this post to see my approach to communicating with everyone.

HELPING FINANCIALLY

If you feel like helping to support this endeavor financially, you can use PayPal Direct Paypal Link or Chase Quickpay (Zelle) (philip_b_moss@hotmail.com) or Venmo (PhilipBMoss - phone last 4: 8669)

ORDERING OUR WAY COOL CID-VIRTUAL T-SHIRTS PICTURED BELOW

Order T-shirts Here

On behalf of our entire team, thanks so much for participating and being part of our virtual community at this time.

Be Safe,

Phil Moss


HOW I DO MY COMMUNICATIONS WITH YOU ALL

When there is plenty of time, I send you newsletters through this mynewsletterbuilder.com.  And I update this website, Chicagoisraelidancing.com

My fastest and easiest (and INTERACTIVE) way to communicate is via our Facebook group, Chicago Israeli Folk Dancing 

And also, for brief text messages, I use our WhatsApp group. (If you want to be added, please send me a message on WhatsApp to +13125198669.)

So please keep these tools in mind when you look for information from me.  To reach me, please use my email address or my cell (located in the flyer at the top of the newsletter.)



Find Out How To Order The 24 Hour Worldwide Israeli Dance Marathon 1 Commemorative T-Shirt!


Order Your T-Shirt Here Using This Link!

(Actually, you can go to this link to order any of the shirts that Carol has prepared for us.)


Hello Israeli Dancers from around the world!  What a thrill it was to dance with you during the first ever 24 Hour Worldwide Israeli Dance Marathon, which was held on April 13-14, 2020. Thank you for being part of this global community.  And thanks to those of you who made contributions to the charities selected by the marathon leaders.

As a charitable follow-on, and for some additional fun, we are very pleased to offer you this opportunity to order the 24 Hour Worldwide Israeli Dance Marathon t-shirt.  With your purchase, not only will you be getting a nice keepsake, you will also be helping the World Health Organization (WHO) as it combats the pandemic.  We’re looking forward to seeing lots of you wearing this shirt in one of the upcoming dance sessions!

These most excellent t-shirts are made-to-order (in your selected size, color, and t-shirt style). It takes between 7 and 14 business days after a campaign closes for shirts to arrive. By the way, Bonfire, our awesome vendor, CAN SHIP INTERNATIONALLY, so be the first one in your village to get this great shirt.

The campaign has reopened.  It will take 7-14 days from the next campaign end date for delivery. 

Please share this message with others. This offer is open to the Worldwide Israeli Dance community, and for anyone who wants to participate in our fundraiser!

(PLEASE NOTE that the proceeds will flow through Machol Merkaz and then be gifted directly to WHO)



How To Order Our Way Cool T-shirt: Chicago Israeli Dancing - We Dance Virtually Anywhere


Be the first one on your block to get yours! (Even if you don’t see anyone on your block.) 😀😀😀
📷
Courtesy of ‎Carol Lezberg Neiger‎

https://www.bonfire.com/chicago-israeli-dancing-virtual-dance-1/
Hi everyone. As well all now know, painfully too well, the ever-changing developments related to the Coronavirus have been devastating and challenging for all of us. Businesses and communities around the world have had to change plans, close-up shop, cancel events, work from home, etc.
In an effort to keep us all safe, and still together virtually, Chicago Israeli Dancing has begun to hold its weekly Thursday night session via Zoom conferencing. By all accounts, our, inaugural session on March 19th and follow up on March 26th were great successes. People were thrilled just to “be with each other,” to interact, lift their spirits, and to get their Israeli dance fix. So we plan to keep it going.
And to add some additional fun, as well as to support our camp, Machol Merkaz (which we are praying to be able to conduct starting on October 22), we are very pleased to offer you this opportunity to order our new Chicago Israeli Dancing T-shirt. With your purchase, not only will you be getting a nice keepsake, you will also be helping people to participate in our great camp, whenever we will be able to conduct it. (You can be sure that the need for scholarship assistance will jump dramatically this year.) In addition, we’re looking forward to seeing lots of you wearing this shirt in one of our upcoming dance sessions!
These t-shirts are made-to-order (in your selected size, color, and t-shirt style). It takes between 7 and 14 business days after a campaign closes for shirts to arrive.The campaign has reopened.  You will receive your shirt  7-14 days from the end of the current campaign.  Please share this message with others. This offer is open to the world-wide Israeli Dance community who we now welcome as members of Chicago Israeli Dancing – Virtual. 📷
Thanks in advance and stay safe.
Phil Moss and Penny Brichta (session leaders), Carol Neiger (Marketing Director


Important Info About Our New Home, Beth Emet Congregation
Parking is on the west side of the building (1224 Dempster in Evanston).  Overflow street parking is available on Asbury.  Entrance is from the west side parking lot.  Press the doorbell and stay in front of the camera, and be prepared to wait inside the second door until you are buzzed in.  Walk straight ahead and then go down the stairs to the Weiner Room.  YOU WILL NOT BE ADMITTED UNLESS YOU ARE FULLY VAXED (see above)

Someone will be available to buzz you in until 10:30PM.  If you come after that, you can try the doorbell, and if that doesn't work,you can try texting me but there is no guarantee that I'll see the text.  Try reaching me at 312.519.8669 because my other number may not work in the Weiner Room. Or try reaching me via email, philip_b_moss@hotmail.com.  I do receive that in the room, but I can only check it occasionally.

Regarding the floor, please make sure to wear non-scuff shoes like you would on a wood gymnasium floor (this one is vinyl).  We need to take good care of this floor and building!

YOU MUST BE MASKED WHEN YOU ARE ANYWHERE IN BETH EMET.  PLEASE DO NOT ENTER OTHER PARTS OF THE BUILDING EXCEPT FOR THE DANCE ROOM AREA. ABSOLUTELY NO SMOKING ON THE BETH EMET CAMPUS!!!  AND PLEASE REMOVE WET SHOES BEFORE WALKING THROUGH THE DANCE ROOM.


Our Whatsapp Group
I have concluded that it would be a good thing for me to have a way to reach everyone quickly from time to time.  So I have created a group called Chicago Israeli Dancing.  I plan to use this group very sparingly.  It is meant for instant communication, without requiring people to be looking at FaceBook.  I have added people who are already WhatsApp contacts of mine, but I am missing many of you.   So if you would like to be included, please find me on WhatsApp at +1 312.519.8669.  Then message me and ask to be added.  Also, I will use this group only for messages that I intend for everyone to see.  I ask that you all do the same.  Thx

By the way, I am going to start to use our WhatsApp Group, Chicago Israeli Dancing, more frequently - especially for time-critical communications.  As an example, if we are able to dance outside, I will post the info there and will provide updates as needed.  Chicago folks especially, I strongly encourage you to join the group.  Of course, if you are not on WhatsApp yet, this is a prerequisite for joining the group.  Once you are on WhatsApp, here is your invitation to join the group WhatsApp Invitation


Our Facebook Group
I wanted to remind you all to make sure to join our Facebook Group, Chicago Israeli Dancing. Except for the WhatsApp group, this is the easiest way for me to quickly reach you and it is also the way that you can interact online with the rest of the group.

Chicago Israeli Dancing on Facebook