Hora Archives - Smashing the Glass

Jewish Wedding Dancing (The Hora) – Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained #9

14/11/2014 by Karen

All imagery by Blake Ezra Photography. This is part 9 of the 9-part Jewish Wedding Traditions Explained series.

So far in this Jewish Weddings Explained series, we’ve gone through the entire day from morning to evening, now the real fun begins. Let’s be honest, Jewish weddings are known for their dancing. If there’s one thing that most non-Jewish guests know about a Jewish wedding, it’s that someone is going to be lifted on a chair and there’s going to be some crazy dancing.

In fact, we recently photographed a stunning and intimate non-Jewish wedding in the rolling hills of Devon. A couple of months before that day, the Groom’s brother had married a Jewish girl in New York. The Groom enjoyed the dancing at his brother’s wedding so much that he insisted his guests hoist him and his new wife onto chairs, which they did, as other guests around them clapped and made vaguely Jewish-sounding noises like ‘oy, oy, oy’. Even at non-Jewish weddings, lifting the couple on chairs will always be awesome!

Firstly, what do we call it? Most people nowadays refer to this part of the wedding as the ‘Israeli Dancing’. For me, it’s not as though everybody in Israel dances down the street in a circular fashion on their way to the local shops, and when you go into a club in Tel Aviv, you don’t see everyone being lifted up on chairs… so I call it ‘Jewish dancing’.

How much time do we allow for the Jewish Dancing section of our wedding?

11/09/2013 by Karen

Hi MeLena

The hora is one of my favourite parts of a Jewish wedding – everyone that you love and care about dances around you, participating in your joy and celebration as you try not to fall off your flying thrones! I say live it up but I think the answer to how long for, depends on the type of guests that you’ve invited.

If it’s a predominantly Jewish crowd who have been to many Jewish weddings before your big day, they are going to throw themselves into it and probably want 30 minutes worth to work up a huge sweat and go wild! That could either be encompassed into all one set, or split into two sets of 15 minutes.

However, if there are going to be quite a few non-Jews who may have never experienced the Hora before than I think that a shorter set of approximately 10 minutes is better as there won’t be quite the same vigour from every guest, and not everyone will have the confidence to throw themselves into the Jewish dancing the first time they experience it.

The great thing about an iPod playlist is that you can arrange say 30 minutes worth of hora dance music and just wind it down at any point if you feel the momentum is dropping or people are ready for a break. It’s definitely better to allow for more and give the ‘cut’ signal to the DJ if you feel like it’s time to stop.

In terms of your iPod Jewish music playlist, get the party rocking by checking out these cool alternative versions of Hava Nagila, the Hora and other Jewish Wedding music and this one that collates the best versions and remixes of Hava Nagila. There are loads of non-traditional versions to choose from that maybe better match your personality as a couple, or your wedding theme, than the traditional ‘fiddler on the roof’ style versions. Listen to them all , take your pick, and have a wonderful Jewish wedding music set!

Karen x

Do you have a wedding-related question that you’d like me to answer in Dear Karen? Either email me or leave it in the comments section below. I look forward to hearing from you!

The best non-traditional versions of ‘Hava Nagila’

11/09/2013 by Karen

The traditional ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ style versions of Hava Nagila are not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, so why not choose a more original and fun variety for your Jewish wedding playlist?

Choose a Hava Nagila (or ‘Have-a-tequila’!) that you feel reflects you both or fits the theme of your wedding. Below I’ve sourced everything from a Cuban style version to American Jazz to Beach Party to Techno style renditions. And further down the page there’s some awesome YouTube versions to watch by Bruce Springsteen, Neil Diamond, a Bollywood Hava Nagila, and a few more spectacles!

HAVA NAGILA BY ALEX M vs. MARC VAN DAMME
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A techno version of Hava Nagila that will get the party *pumping*!

HAVA NAGILA BY THE BARRY SISTERS
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Hava Nagila with a 40s American jazz twist

HAVA NAGILA BY TERRA FOLK
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Hava Nagila with an Irish folk band twist.

HAVA NAGILA BY HAVANA GILA
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Hava Nagila in a Salsa/Cuban fusion style. Very classy!

HAVA NAGILA BY JOE BROWN
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A bluesy version of Hava Nagila that starts slow and then really kicks in

HAVA NAGILA BY MUNICIPALE BALCANICA
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Hava Nagila with a Balkan Gypsy twist

HAVA NAGILA BY SCOTT WILSON
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Hava Nagila with a Middle Eastern guitar twang!

Jewish Wedding Glossary – Smashing The Glass Style

07/08/2013 by Karen

So what do those funny-sounding Yiddishe/ Aramaic/Hebrew words associated with a Jewish Wedding really mean? It’s all laid out below for you complete with some all-important insights if you want to be really in the know…

AUFRUF: A short ceremony during the Shabbat (Sabbath) synagogue service that normally takes place on the Saturday morning before the wedding. The groom (and sometimes the bride) are honoured in front of their community. This is often followed by a small party or lunch (any excuse to add some food into a ritual).

ARAMAIC: A semitic language related to Hebrew that is often used as the wording in the ketubah (and a near-unpronouncable dialect that only rabbis seem to be able to enunciate / read).

ASHKENAZI: Jews of Eastern and Central European descent.

BADEKEN: A short but meaningful ceremony where the groom covers the bride’s face with her veil. It occurs just before the actual wedding ceremony and is a custom that derives from the biblical account of Jacob’s first marriage, when he was deceived to marry the heavily veiled Leah instead of Rachel, his intended bride.

The badeken is often emotionally charged as the bride and groom may not have seen each other for 24 hours or longer (as much as 7 days) until this moment.

The Badeken ceremony as seen at Karen & Jeremy’s wedding [image by Earthy Photography]

BENCHERS / BENCHING: A small booklet containing the Jewish blessings for a meal (or a Jewish songbook for dinner – we love singing!)

BIRKAT HAMAZON: Jewish blessings recited after a meal – known in English as Grace after Meals (or a Jewish songbook for after dinner jollity).

CHATAN: Hebrew word for groom or a son-in-law. It comes from the verb meaning to tie, connect or covenant.

CHAZAN: A cantor – often a trained musician – who plays an active role in the ceremony in prayers said as songs (and he more often that not sings better than the rabbi).

CHALLAH: Delicious sweet plaited white bread eaten on Shabbat and at celebrations (a bit like a brioche – absolutely scrumptious toasted with a little butter).

CHUPPAH: The wedding canopy which sits atop four poles that represents the couple’s future home(often mistakenly pronounced as ‘Chopper’ as in the bike , or ‘Chupa [Chups]’ as in the lollipops).

A Jewish Chuppah as seen at Lee Ann & Andre’s’ wedding [image by Gavin Hart Photography]

HA MOTZI: A Jewish blessing recited over bread.

HAVA NAGILA: A traditional Hebrew folk song played at Jewish weddings (it’s become the absolute staple of Jewish wedding bands).

Cool alternative versions of Hava Nagila, the Hora and other Jewish Wedding music

09/07/2013 by Karen

Image taken from Mishie & Misha’s spectacular Amalfi Coast Jewish wedding

How about a twist on the traditional versions of Hava Nagila or the Hora? These mp3’s will add that different element to your Jewish wedding music and make sure that yours goes down as the coolest Jewish wedding in town. If you know any other great alternative versions of Jewish wedding music that’ll get everyone dancing like this (see 40 seconds in!) please add the links or names of the songs and artists in the comments section.

HAVANA NAGILA BY HIP HOP HOODIOS
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A cuban version of Hava Nagila