A beloved Jewish folk song about a century old, “Hava Nagila”, started playing through the Monte-Carlo Beach Club on a Monday afternoon. The music, surprisingly catchy, encouraged everyone to dance in circles and swirl their cloth napkins into the air.
“Hava Nagila” was originally a traditional tune played at Jewish events, such as weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs. However, it seems like now this infectious song has been playing in other non-Jewish gatherings, like sporting events, bars and clubs, music festivals and other parties.
Abraham Zvi Idelsohn, the composer for “Hava Nagila” wrote this song in 1918, believing the Jewish population needed fresh songs when Zionism and the Jewish people were just gaining strength.
The song became an instant hit. In the 1940s, Jewish survivors played it after the Holocaust, seeing it as a symbol of renewal and survival. In the 1950s, Harry Belafonte recorded the song, making it even more popular. New versions of the song appeared in the 1990s when gymnasts used it for floor routines and sports teams played it at their stadiums.
A professor of Jewish history at the University of Virginia, James Loeffler, has studied the song an d said that “It is so recognizable, and it is this very simple, very easy, very ubiquitous thing. That’s why it works at the ballpark, it works at the ice skating rink.” He highlighted that “People everywhere and every time sing along.”
Marie Salome, a Jewish art curator in Brooklyn, used to hear it at a wine cave she frequently visited. “The song is literally about joy and dance. It was just so fun”, she said. She didn’t go to many Jewish events, but she would love for her to hear the song in even more places. “I love the idea of people dancing to each other’s cultural songs”, she added.
Professor Loeffler added to this entire situation. “I think every culture wants to preserve its identity and uniqueness and be valued by the world. I do think Idelsohn would be excited that the Jews are giving something to the world.”
“Hava Nagila” was originally a traditional tune played at Jewish events, such as weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs. However, it seems like now this infectious song has been playing in other non-Jewish gatherings, like sporting events, bars and clubs, music festivals and other parties.
Abraham Zvi Idelsohn, the composer for “Hava Nagila” wrote this song in 1918, believing the Jewish population needed fresh songs when Zionism and the Jewish people were just gaining strength.
The song became an instant hit. In the 1940s, Jewish survivors played it after the Holocaust, seeing it as a symbol of renewal and survival. In the 1950s, Harry Belafonte recorded the song, making it even more popular. New versions of the song appeared in the 1990s when gymnasts used it for floor routines and sports teams played it at their stadiums.
A professor of Jewish history at the University of Virginia, James Loeffler, has studied the song an d said that “It is so recognizable, and it is this very simple, very easy, very ubiquitous thing. That’s why it works at the ballpark, it works at the ice skating rink.” He highlighted that “People everywhere and every time sing along.”
Marie Salome, a Jewish art curator in Brooklyn, used to hear it at a wine cave she frequently visited. “The song is literally about joy and dance. It was just so fun”, she said. She didn’t go to many Jewish events, but she would love for her to hear the song in even more places. “I love the idea of people dancing to each other’s cultural songs”, she added.
Professor Loeffler added to this entire situation. “I think every culture wants to preserve its identity and uniqueness and be valued by the world. I do think Idelsohn would be excited that the Jews are giving something to the world.”