Can anyone point me to a really good version of Hava Nagila (to be played for the hora at a bat mitzvah party)?

I’ve found a lot of overly synthetic-sounding ones, and looking for something more ‘organic’ but well recorded so it’s punchy and exciting to dance to.

For example: I really like the feel of the live instruments and crisp recording of this mambo version. https://youtu.be/eTYsoKyrGAQ

Something that hits those bunch-of-people-playing-together and good-rhythmic-presence vibes, *but* in the traditional style is what I’d like.

Thanks!

I am proud to be a Jew.
 
Not because being Jewish is easy. Honestly, I would not wish the pain of it on anyone. It hurts—deeply.
 
Why are so many of us driven to succeed? To outperform, outlast and continually prove our right to exist?
 
Where does that drive come from?
 
Fear. Pain.
 
Generations of knowing that safety can disappear quickly. Of trying your best to contribute, to do well, to be good—and still get smacked in the face for it.
 
It hurts to discover that doing everything right may still not be enough to be accepted. That success may earn admiration, but not safety. That no matter how much value you create, someone may still resent you simply for being a Jew.
 
Yet I carry no regret for being Jewish.
 
That fear and pain burn a fire deep within us. Sometimes the fire consumes us. But it also pushes us to grow stronger, care more deeply, love harder and hope even further.
 
From that struggle have come extraordinary gifts: deep thought, creative ideas, fierce compassion and an almost unreasonable faith that a better world is possible—even when the world in front of us is dark.
 
We know how much darkness hurts, so we become even more committed to light.
 
We do not march because the pain disappears.

We march while crying.
 
We struggle, and we keep going.
 
Someone who is not Jewish may never fully understand that mindset. But if you are Jewish, you may feel it in your bones.
 
Some of us crack beneath the pain. But as a people, we get up. We keep moving. We continue believing there is something we can do to make reality better.
 
I am proud to be a Jew because I am oriented toward transformation: from weakness to strength, fear to love, failure to growth, and darkness to light.
 
I am proud that I can carry my own pain—and sometimes the pain others project onto me—without surrendering my belief in a brighter future.
 
I dream of calm. Peace. Prosperity.
 
And I will keep moving toward that light—not only because the darkness leaves me no choice, but because it has made me love the light even more.
 
To me, being Jewish means continuing to bring light, even on the darkest night of the year.
 
Even if I have to run toward it alone, I will.
 
And for that, I am proud to be a Jew.

Does anyone know if there is any group chat for Jewish people? I’d like to meet new Jewish people and make some friends.

I am looking to move out of WA, and am Tennessee is one destination because the company I work for allows folk to transfer and has locations there, mainly in Nashville. Anybody in that state or has been there who can talk about their experience in that state?

The Book of Lamentations (Eicha - איכה) is read on the 9th of Av. In it the prophet Jeremiah laments the destruction of Jerusalem and the Holy Temple.

Hello English is not my first language.

For years I have always got curious about why our prayers gets ansverd. but my question stems from why does other faiths believers prayer work. I have seen preyer work. I liv in an neighborhood whit many different Faiths. I had an Muslim and Cristian friends. And I saw them all pray and Thier Prayers getting ansverd. If Thier Prayers gets ansverd doesn't that mean they have some semblance of Truth and holiness?

(Holiness might be the wrong word)

A few years ago i davened in pretty much every shul in town that has a minyan before 7AM, and the shul was either not yeshivish, or it felt like an old age home. So my question is: do most people in their 30s daven after 7AM? Or is there another shul that im missing?

Lets get help with an argument.

Is eating bacon during Passover keeping passover since you aren't eating anything forbidden for Pesach?

I have tried my best to compile a thorough, comprehensive timeline of the destruction of the First Temple, based on as many Talmudic and Pre-Talmudic sources I could find. Talmud Bavli, Yerushalmi, Midrash, Aggadah, etc. To the best of my ability, this is the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash as understood by the Talmudic Sages.

This was written with Tisha BiAv in mind, so not only is all content in the article appropriate to learn on Tisha BiAv, that is the intended goal of the article.

For those who remember it from last year, this article has been updated and has been expanded, deepened, and enriched by 15-20% of the original length, with new sources and new events placed on the timeline. There will be continual updates throughout Tisha BiAv, but these will be minor additions and more footnotes. There is a PDF version available to print.

I hope you find the research satisfying, and I hope you are having an easy, meaningful fast.

I am looking for recommendations for Hebrew and Yiddish Language Courses.

I am in the NYC area, but online would probably be easier for me.

If people would be willing to share their personal experiences and recommendations, it would be greatly appreciated!

My first post here

I recently travelled to Southern Poland and Ukraine, and stayed in Krakow for a few days. While there, I stayed near the Jewish quarter of the city, where unfortunately following the end of WW2, most of the population was killed. However, whilst touring some of the local Synagogues and exploring Jewish tradition, it really connected me with my family’s Jewish roots, and really helped me as a person. I recently broke up with my girlfriend of a year and I’ve found that starting the Torah (start to finish), learning Hebrew, and growing much closer to Judaism has really helped me heal but also to become a loving, caring person.

My family never really was very religious when it came to Judaism, so it has been quite a Journey (now of 2 ish weeks) of me exploring my Jewish faith. This community has been so helpful and all of you are amazing.

(Also ignore my handwriting i know it’s horrible

Today marks the 9th of Av. The day on which we mourn the Destruction of the First and Second Temples, the deaths of rabbinic leaders after the failed Bar Kokhba Revolt and other catastrophes which have befallen the Jewish people across history. It is a time, where we try to recognize the role baseless hatred and internal disunity have played and hope to improve communally.

The holiday is classically observed thru a fast from sunset to sunset, the reading of the book of Lamentations and a number of mourning practices.

Below is a non-comprehensive list of links from various movements. Anyone who wants to include more resources in comments: from reading material, audio or visual programming is encouraged to do so.

Reform

Conservative

Modern Orthodox

Chabad

Please note: any questions about fasting are best left to your rabbi or doctor.

Hope everyone has an easy fast!