Doings at Beth Sholom During Fall'09

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This web page documents Don's return to Beth Sholom at the top of the page and something designated as the 'Homage To Scorpios' week at the bottom

Don Returns to Beth Sholom - Oct 5th, 2009 - Time 7:30 to 10:00PM

Don returned, after a 4 month hiatus, to Beth Sholom for his Monday class. A lot of Israeli dancers living on the Old York Road corridor looked forward to his return and the disk coordinator, hiding as usual in the shadows, thought that he would document this event. Continual limitation of his photographic eye and his inability to control his new flash produced pictures that were much darker than he expected, but given these limitations, here's a pictoral record of Don's return on October 5th to his Monday class. To the left is the welcome sight of Don's equipment. We've shown some of this in the setup page of this web site and you can see that Don was already prepped for action by time the disk coordinator arrived

The collection table at the entrance to the Fischman Memorial Auditorium at Beth Sholom, where Don, and Sharon Polsky on Tuesday evening, hold classes. Don usually utilizes students to collect money and many of these students bring homework and their own computers to occupy themselves while everyone else is a-dance. One of the student's Mom is posing to the right of the table. We imagine that it is somewhat difficult to get these gatekeeping students to remain in place during a session as any teenager would want to join the fun and dance, but apparently those selected, pictured here, were able to temper their enthusism

Beginners, and that unfortunately includes the disk coordinator as his dancing shows, tend to be the first to show up at classes. Possibly even before a class has started. Perhaps they do this to get some tips from Don (and the other Israeli dance instructors) as to what to expect when the class begins. Here's one woman, who subsequently we found out is named Rita, who has arrived very early. We'll see Rita in other pictures as she participates in Don's return

A picture of Don as he teaches his first dance of the evening. Generally, Don uses this class as a prep for the teaching at his Thursday class but this week it was reversed. Except for one dance, 'winds of war', he taught several of the dances that he had taught the previous Thursday. This Beth Sholom class has morphed in the year and a half since it began into a strenuous beginner/intermediate class as many of these dancers have greatly improved their technique since the start of the class in Jan'08. Just the selection of dances taught by Don on this Monday indicates how far this class has evolved since it started

We have snuck up behind Don while he is teaching. Like all instructors, Don has an affinity for his students and generally teaches to their abilities. In the past, he has generally shown 3 to 4 dances during a session at Beth Sholom and this week was no exception. This continual learning process makes it difficult for beginners as there is a tremendous learning curve to navigate when one starts to learn Israeli dance. But, for those students who become regular dancers, there will be a future encompassing plenty of enjoyment of the dance steps themselves and the music.

Here's another picture of Don as he is about to show a dance. The disk coordinator had some fun popping in and out of the shadows to take these pictures. Do you think the continual bursts of flash tipped Don off as to what was taking place behind his back? One of the dances Don taught, Ode ode, has become an instant favorite of the disk coorinator based on its music and intriguing steps. All these elements, music, tempo and steps, make a session of Israeli dance a fun way to exercise

This Monday class is notable for the number of teens and tweens that attend who are quite good and provide the class with great amounts of energy. As opposed to his Thursday class, Don does not emphasize partner dancing in this session and further plays to this younger crowd by having several line dance segments. It is at that time that these younger dancers take to the floor as you will see in the next few shots.

As indicated previousy, there usually is 3 to 4 sets of line dances on most Mondays. These sets are dominated by younger dancers. Most Israeli dance sessions do not include lines as these sessions cater to an older crowd interested in circles and partners. But at Beth Sholom on Mondays, Lines have their place and during a Monday session perhaps 10 to 15 line dances are featured. While most older dancers move to the sideline, this photo shows the younger set being joined by several fearless older dancers

The line dancers are moving the other way. Israeli dances, being highly choreographed, provide for much movement as they are danced. Circles generally go in four directions: clockwise with the circle, counterclockwise, into the circle and out. Line dances on the other hand generally create a box shifting 90 degrees for each iteration of the dance although there are those lines that shift 180 degrees.

This shot shows another line dance in operation. Here, we also see Marek Milbar - the big guy in the center - participating. Marek, and his wife, Ofrah, are everywhere. They have been Israeli dancing for about 3 years and have become a presence in the Isreali dancing community of Philadephia. And, they have made their impression on this web site as Marek has provided translation services for the disk coordinator whose inability to cope with languages such as his native English is legenday. All the dancers, whether new or experienced, helped make it an interesting night at Beth Sholom

And, speaking of experienced dancers, it was nice seeing Sherry Holt on Monday night - here she is talking with Elana Benamy. Sherry has been dancing with Don since his class at Temple Sinai in 2001-2003. She is coming back from a shoulder injury and with rehab over, is attempting to return to this form of exercise. Like any other exercise regimen, Israeli dance can cause physical injury as it involves vigorous dance movements. Whatever the risks, some use it as an exercise routine while others dance it for the beauty. But, whatever, it was nice to see Sherry make it on the floor this night

While we don't recognize this dancer who obviously needs a haircut, he, like many of the dancers, seemed to be enjoying themselves. The hiatus was long but Don made it worthwhile by reestablishing his class and made it a fun evening for all. He returns next week, Oct 12th and every Monday thereafter and all is back to normal on the Old York Road corridor

Many of dancers would not give permission to put their photos on this web site including Steve Margolis. He did allow permission to display his bag which you are now seeing. Steve is a regular at most of the Israeli dance venues including Don's Thursday and Rob's Sunday classes. He sometimes attends Germantown and Sharon Polsky's classes. But this is not all: Steve is an accomplished folk dancer and regularly leads the Princeton Folk Dancers on Friday night (in Princeton, where else) and is an accomplished musician performing with the Buxmont Orchestra. This is in addition to his occupation and practice as a medical doctor. Maybe one day he will allow this site to substitiute his real photo here.

Homage to scorpios - Nov 30th,2009 - Time 11:30Am and approx 8:00PM

Did you notice that several sessions during the end of November, 2009 had ice creme and toppings as a treat for dancers. At some of the sessions there was even a poem designated as a "homage to scorpios". Well, at the time this was going on, since it was November, it was the part of the astrological cycle when Scorpios are at their height. We did a little digging to try to find out who was doing and/or catering this. It was not easy as the setting up of the catered treats was as stealthy as a F22. But, we prevailed and the disk coordinator can tell you that this was the idea of one of the more reclusive and low profile dancers at most sessions, Marc Rauer or Mark Rauer (depending on whom you talk to). We got wind that the last "homage to scorpios" event would play out at Beth Sholom on the night of Nov 30, 2009 and that Marc (or Mark or whatever) intended to pre-position food in the morning at that site.

So, we waited in ambush to catch up with him and exactly at 11:30AM, in he rolled into the parking lot. As he unloaded his supplies, we took the picture to the right and tried to keep up with him as he hurried to the kitchen, freezer and refrigerator. In fact, we tried to interview him but he's very cagey as you will see.

First thing we asked "Is it your birthday today." "I don't think so," was the reply. "Are you a scorpio yourself," was our next question and the reply was a very non-commital "possibly." "All-right, so how old are you," we asked and got the following reply, "Somewhere around 105 but I've really lost count in the last few years." Marc(k) looks pretty spry for 105 but a google search puts him at 60 or 61 (assuming that he isn't the teenaged soccer player from Spotsylvania, Virginia or one of the Marc Rauers living in Germany and Australia). By this point we were in the kitchen and Marc(k) was unloading his shopping bags and we were able to snap a picture of these bags for you before they disappeared into the freezer and refrigerator

You can see, peeking through the bags, several cartons of Breyer's ice creme. We asked him, "Is Breyer's your favorite." "Not really." was the reply. "It's a favorite of Steve Margolis and if Steve is showing up, I get Breyer's Vanilla Fudge and Cherry Vanilla for him." And with that statement, we were running outside to his car. We got one last question in before he bolted out of the parking lot. "Are you really a teacher at a college." we asked. "My students don't think so," he shouted as he almost ran us over as he made good his escape.

So, we decided to come to Don's class that night and around 8:00 O'Clock, Marc(k) surreptitiously went into the kitchen and started to lay-out his provisions. Below, to the left, you will see 3 cartons of ice creme, all sorts of toppings including chocolate syrup, cherries, raspberries, walnuts and whipped creme. Also included are plastic bowls and knives. In the middle is Marc(k) as he attends to two of the cartons of ice creme. And for those keeping track, the ice creme flavors were Cherry Vanilla, Vanilla Fudge and Butter Almond. We know who likes the first two cartons from our previous conversation with Marc(k), but we cannot tell you for whom the last flavor was acquired. Middle right is the catering as it finally appears on the table and it was done so stealthily that you can see the dancers, oblivious to all this, continuing their routines while all this is going on to the side.

If it wasn't for Steve Margolis shouting that there was ice creme and lunging toward the table, no one would have disturbed this setup, but after the secret was out, everybody got their share. Below, you can see a comparison of the table before and after the dancers got ahold of these goodies. In the shot to the right, one half eaten container of Butter Almond stands alone against the horde of hungry dancers who descended on these treats. We should add that the metal utensils serving as scoops are from the Synagogue

No poetry was given out at this session but the disk coordinator did keep what was presented at Germantown the day before. We did some research on the internet where Marc(k) said he found this. You can link to this poem by clicking here but we reproduce it below. As you read it, do you think this describes the scorpios you know? Does it describe Marc or k?

For Our Annual Homage to Scorpios: A Birthday Poem

My Dear Scorpio, When at your best you are:
Determined and forceful, Intuitive and emotional, Passionate and powerful, Exciting and magnetic

And On the dark side:
Jealous and resentful, Compulsive and obstinate, Secretive and obsessive

Said to be The Most Intense, Profound and Powerful Character of all the Zodiac Signs! ! !
That is feared and that fascinates,
A character so passionate,
Made of deep emotions,
Harnessed aggression,
Overwhelming convictions,
Incredible resolution,
Immense forcefulness,
A charisma of magnetic intensity
And this strangely hypnotic personality,
All this under a tranquil but watchful composure.
A mask that shows us a placid exterior,
Even when appearing self-controlled and calm
There is a seething of emotional energy
Ready to erupt at any moment like the volcano…
With a horoscope that reads like that who wouldn’t have your ego! ! !

And yet you can be so deeply sensitive,
So easily moved by emotions
Or your inner demons,
That makes you so easy to hurt,
So quick to detect insult or injury,
Too quick maybe?
You are prone to ferocious anger and you can be vindictive and vengeful, cruel to the ones you dislike
You can’t seem to let go, you exaggerate, you over-dramatize.
Maybe that’s why you are so secretive,
Because you can’t fully express what you feel.

You are however undoubtedly pleasant to be with
Courteous and affable
In conversation thoughtful
Even with those penetrating eyes…
Your tenacity and willpower are ‘colossal’,
But dare we just say that you can be plain intractable?
For one who likes to seek the truth and the meaningful,
The hidden cause and being involved
Can we persuade the persuader?
Get out of your shadow
What is offered here is anything but shallow

No need to abuse of your legend
We know you’re only human.
We know… it’s just your ‘nature’.
And we think you truly a treasure
Best wishes on your birthday!