Hava Nagela

     This is an internationally famous Jewish folksong. It’s tone can be as plaintive as it can be upbeat and joyous, played slow and fast. The song is repeated a couple or so times in Hawk Dancer. The following snippet is taken from chapter one:

     Richard played the violin from his waist so he could sing; his mother sat at the spinet and her spouse grabbed either a guitar or banjo, and sometimes borrowed the violin. Richard rested the violin on his shoulder, raised the bow in the air commanding attention by his silence. His head rocked back and forth followed by the upper torso as the spirit of the music filled him. Slowly the bow moved towards the strings as the violin took its classical position under Richard’s chin, then a sudden brush of the bow gave the first note, followed by a long draw, ha – va. This was repeated for the next word, slowly, na – ge – la. The guest felt the anticipated voice. With intense deliberateness, the bow repeated this pattern three times and then stopped. Everyone stared as the violin was lowered to the boy’s hip. A young, tender, yet rich baritone resonated from his barely opened mouth, “Hava nagela,” a pause, “Hava nagela,” done a bit higher, “Hava nagela” louder this time, just as slow with the mouth widening some, inviting another to join in the song. A tensely held tambourine came in contact with his father’s thigh as the father lent his tenor voice for a repeat of the words. The piano started up and the mother gave harmony in alto. Round by round the song picked up its pace.
     The piano quit suddenly, the tambourine was set down leaving the violinist to step forward. The violin, raised back up to the chin, began the song over again as Mr. White whisked out a handkerchief and led a circle dance with his wife who pulled the guests into the dance. The violinist picked up the pace again and again until no dancers were left. The contemplative slow movements that opened the song closed it.
          © 2005

Dancing Hava Nagela

     The tradition was passed on to Randy. This is a drawing of him leading the dance, perhaps around 1968/69. There would have been a gathering of Birch Clumpers down at the county garbage dump site where Jamie Fox had set up a pavilion and held open air, free entertainment. Hava Nagela was a favorite number, and it was usually left up to Fr. Jacob or to Randy to pull out a white rag or handkerchief and get the dance going, inviting as many as that would to join in.
     The simple drawing was done on news print paper, tacked to a wall and somewhat ignored all these years. It faded, a corner tore away and curled in the humid woodland conditions, but it survived the test of time.

Art by Bro. Joshua, © 2008

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