Dancing.

Dancing is a very common practice in most places around the world. Not in the ocean. Dancing has many forms and can conjure up a variety of images in ones head. Humans have, for centuries, combined music with movement. This combination has been recreational, religious, or romantic. Dancing can be celebratory; a rush of excitement or happiness naturally spurs the body to action. Dancing is a response. 

Yesterday Shabat started again, the weekly protest of slavery. Intentionally not working. A ritual the Jews have is to visit the Western Wall before shabat starts to pray. This wall is all that is left of their temple, today it is the holiest place they can go to. Constantly Jews pray for the coming of the messiah and the reconstruction of their temple. On Fridays around 5 the courtyard is packed with men and women (separately) praying. In addition to prayer, it is a time of celebration and friendly conversations. It's the beginning of the Sabbath. In the Jewish culture dancing is a common form of celebration. Usually guys or girls will form a circle and dance and sing. Yesterday there was a group of students dancing in the plaza of the Western wall. The guys and girls formed separate circles of maybe 150 students each. These kids were shouting their traditional songs and dancing together in celebration. It was shabat. It was a happy time. 

Now I'm wondering why we don't dance like this in America. When we dance its fun, but its usually different. In the younger generations dancing is more sensual. It's about you, or your partner. The dancing I witnessed was focused on the whole group. It was a community dancing together, everyone with everyone. If we were really happy we wouldn't all get together and dance and sing. It's just not what we do. I don't think either is right or wrong, just different. What is it that makes us different? Why don't we dance?