We Can Dance Again

It has been over 500 days of learning that the world is not as safe as it once seemed, that many of those who appeared to be close to us are not necessarily so. 500 days of

realizing that there are many, many people who choose to believe in the easy lie and have no real interest in delving deeper to uncover the truth.

It has also been over 500 days of appreciating those who do stand by us as a People. Those who refuse to be trapped by cheap propaganda and genuinely seek to be informed, even raising their voices to spread the real motivations behind a conflict that seems eternal.

More than 500 days of learning to tolerate differences, of accepting, now more than ever, that there are those who, even in the face of senseless and boundless violence and death, still raise their voices for the rights of those who did not even respect the fundamental right to life of the most fragile among us... the babies.

And yet, in the streets of different cities in Israel, we continue to see people singing and dancing on Purim. We have witnessed Jewish weddings, chuppot being celebrated with joy. We have been surprised to see that the People of Israel continue to sing Am Yisrael Chai, even when there are those, within this very nation that refuses to disappear, who have the shameless audacity to demand justice for those who have only sought, and continue to seek, to destroy us. Not the civilians, but the terrorists.

In times of war, when pain and uncertainty fill the air, returning to dance and song may seem irrelevant or even frivolous. However, in the context of Israel, where the very existence of the Jewish people has been tested time and again,

these expressions of joy and resilience take on profound meaning.

The history of the Jewish people is marked by a constant struggle between persecution and survival, but also by the ability to overcome adversity without losing the essence of their culture and identity. Three dates in the Hebrew calendar reflect this duality intensely: Yom HaShoah, Holocaust and Heroism Remembrance Day; Yom HaZikaron, Memorial Day for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel and Victims of Terrorism; and Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel's Independence Day.

These commemorations, occurring in a short period of time, take us from the deepest mourning to the celebration of sovereignty and hope. In this emotional transition, dance and song become fundamental tools for collective resilience. Yom HaShoah confronts us with the memory of the Shoah, the genocide that sought to exterminate the Jewish people and left an indelible wound on humanity. On this day, silence and solemnity prevail, reminding us of the fragility of existence and the importance of remembrance. In the concentration camps, even in the darkest moments, prisoners found in music and dance a form of resistance. In the ghettos, clandestine concerts were organized, and songs were written as a refuge from the brutality of the Nazi regime.

Today, in the midst of a war affecting Israel and shaking its society, this lesson remains relevant. Singing and dancing are not ways to ignore suffering but rather to reaffirm life. It is a reminder that, even when enemies seek to break the spirit of a people, there is a spark that cannot be extinguished. Dancing and singing in times of war is saying: "Despite everything, we are still here."

One day before Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel commemorates Yom HaZikaron, the day when fallen soldiers who defended the country and victims of terrorism are honored. It is a day of profound national mourning, where sirens halt the rhythm of daily life, and the entire country immerses itself in remembrance of those who gave their lives for the survival of the State of Israel.

However, in this mourning, there is also a lesson: the sacrifice of those who gave their lives was not in vain but rather ensured the existence and continuity of the Jewish people, even if at times it feels unfair and hollow.

In the commemoration ceremonies, songs play a key role, often melancholic and reflective, but always with a message of unity and resilience. Despite the sadness, music continues to play, preparing the soul of the people for the emotional transformation that comes with Yom HaAtzmaut.

Just one day after Yom HaZikaron, Israel celebrates Yom HaAtzmaut, the anniversary of its independence. This closeness in the calendar is no coincidence: it underscores the transformation of pain into strength and mourning into hope. The independence of Israel not only represents the culmination of the Zionist dream but is also tangible proof that the Jewish people do not bend in the face of adversity.

On the streets of Israel, Yom HaAtzmaut celebrations are marked by music, dancing, and song. The same people who, just hours earlier, were mourning at Yom HaZikaron ceremonies now hold hands to dance and sing in plazas and parks. This abrupt emotional shift is a unique characteristic of the people of Israel, who do not forget the past but also do not allow themselves to be trapped in sorrow.

In times of war, this tradition takes on even greater significance. When sirens interrupt daily routines and uncertainty settles into everyday life, dancing and singing become a declaration of resistance. In shelters, military bases, and homes, music continues to play, reminding us that identity and culture are stronger than any threat.

Music and dance have the power to unite people, reminding them that they are not alone in their pain or in their hope. In the midst of war, these artistic expressions serve as a universal language that transcends ideological and political barriers. Israel has demonstrated throughout its history that culture is not a luxury but a necessity. When Am Yisrae l Chai (The People of Israel Live) is sung, it is not just a song but a cry of determination. When hours are spent dancing in a rikudá (Israeli collective dance), it is not just a recreational activity but an act of community and resistance.

Returning to song and dance in the midst of war is not an escape from reality but an affirmation of life.

It is a bridge connecting the pain of Yom HaShoah and Yom HaZikaron with the joy of Yom HaAtzmaut, reminding us that even in the darkest times, the light of culture and identity continues to shine.

The dance performance we are about to witness together at Wellin Hall at Hamilton College on April 27 at 4:30 PM says it all: We Can Dance Again. In the midst of ongoing violence and war, let us come together to celebrate life, to transition from the sorrow of the Shoah and Yom HaZikaron toward the rebirth of the Jewish State, the State of Israel, the beginning of our redemption.

Let us dance because we can and because we must. Let us sing because we can and because we must.

Above all... and specially in the month of the celebration of our freedom as a People, let us celebrate life together, and let us proclaim once more that the People of Israel live and endure.

Am Yisrael Chai Vekayam!

Rabbi Gustavo Geier