Dance

From Miriam leading the women in a tambourine-accompanied victory dance at the parting of the Sea to King David leaping and dancing before the Ark of the Covenant, the Bible celebrates dance in many forms. The whirling, ecstatic motion of dance unites the people, carrying them into a trance and bringing them closer to the divine. Yet when Moses sees Israel dancing around the golden calf in a festival dedicated by Aaron to YHWH, he erupts in anger. Why?

Miriam and the Israelite women echo briefly the famous Song of the Sea sung earlier in Exodus 15… or do they? A closer examination reveals a more prominent role for Miriam and provides information about women as musical performers using song, dance, and drums in ancient Israel.

And Moses’ decision to break the tablets

A Roman foundation myth is highly reminiscent of the abduction of the dancing girls in the book of Judges: A closer look at the Talmud’s description of Tu B’Av reveals a revolutionary, therapeutic recasting of the traumatic biblical story.