Practical Restoration

Overview:
Jewish Dance is one of the physical manifestations of the joy that comes with Restoration. It is used in celebrating the Biblical Holidays, Sabbaths, Family Bible Studies, and at other times. Many of the Jewish Dance steps you will learn are the same as those used by thousands of people from around the world, and have been used by the Jewish people for centuries. If you believe you need more study on the Biblical Basis of Dance click here; Otherwise continue reading below.

The Meeting Place:
Choosing a place to meet for your dance will depend upon your circumstances and resources. Some people are blessed with Congregations that already practice dance or are open to it. If this is your case, then you might be able to use their facilities. Whether you have this option or not, you will also need to find a place either in or near your home so that you can dance at your Family Bible studies and Biblical Holidays. If your home is big enough, the living room might be good. If not your back yard or front yard might be good. For tight places you can sometimes form two circles, with one inside the other to save space. If you don't have any of the above mentioned options, you might be able to use a friend's place if they also desire to Restore Dance in their Family. Some people think that since their particular congregation does not dance then they can't either. That is not so, because it can often be taken to other places as mentioned above.    The important thing is to not depend on other people or denominations, but to practice Dance as instructed by Yahuwah in your own family. Obedience to Yahuwah and Blessing Israel will also bring blessings to you.

The Music
We are very blessed to be living in a time when Messianic music is so abundant and accessible.   Below is a list of resources to help you find Messianic music for your Jewish Dance.

Free Downloadable Messianic Music

David L. Martin, David's Instruments of Praise - Beautiful Contemporary and Jewish Messianic Music. Mp3s are offered free, Cds are available for sale.

Cradle Warrior, The Waller Family offers a variety of Messianic Music for your worship and dance, as well as Betrothal and Wedding Songs that point to the picture of Yeshua and His Bride.

Other Messianic Music Available Online
These are just a few of the many Artists that are producing wonderful Messianic music.

Lamb - Joel Chernoff, Lamb began the Messianic Music Movement in the 1970's paving the way for us today.

Marty Goetz - An anointed Pianist and Psalmist, his music carries a distinctive traditional Jewish sound.

Zemer Levav - A gifted Homeschooling Family that ministers together using traditional Davidic Instruments and Dance. Their music is powerful and moving.

Steve McConnel - Steve's music often utilizes a narrative form and teaches about the Biblical Feasts and other areas of Faith.

Ted Pearce - Using both Contemporary and Jewish sounds, Ted's music will inspire you to worship and honor Yeshua.

Paul Wilbur - Especially anointed in the area of Contemporary Messianic Worship, and has been a favorite of many Messianic Worshipers for years.

Galilee of the Nations - To find many other Messianic Artists not listed here you may visit this site.

The Basic Steps
There are four basic steps that you can start with. Jewish Dance can be very complicated, or very simple depending on the basic steps you include into the dance. In this case, simple or basic does not mean less beautiful or worshipful. Because these same steps are used by people from all over the world, you can come together with people you don't even know and join in the dance. This is especially helpful in large events, like the Feast of Tabernacles celebrated in Jerusalem by people from all over the world. You do not even have to know their language, but can worship together in dance. Just as important, these dance steps can be incorporated into your worship at home.

The Four Basic Steps - Free Jewish Dance Instruction Videos

Mayim

Hora

Tcherkessia

Yemenite
    Under Construction

Choreographed Dances
     Under Construction

When to Dance

Scriptural Mandates:
   Passover/Unleavened Bread/First Fruits
   Pentecost
   Feast of Tabernacles

The Scripture actually mandates Yahuwah's people to practice Jewish Dance Celebrations at various times. Most people are not aware of this because of the way the English Translations were made. For instance Exodus 12:14 says:

"And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD [Yahuwah] throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever."
Exodus 12:14 KJV

The words (keep & feast) that are in bold face type are translations of the Hebrew word chagag.
The Strongs dictionary shows the definition of chagag to refer to a celebration of a festival while moving in a circle while dancing. The exact definition is as follows:

H2287 cha^gag, khaw-gag' "A primitive root (compare H2283, H2328); properly to move in a circle, that is, (specifically) to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival; by implication to be giddy: - celebrate, dance, (keep, hold) a (solemn) feast (holiday), reel to and fro."

So basically, Yahuwah is telling His people in Exodus 12:14 to have a Jewish Dance Festival on Passover as a memorial forever.

Then in Exodus 23:14-17, Yahuwah instructs His people to Dance during the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Feast of First Fruits and the Feast of Tabernacles (Ingathering). Below is this verse from the King King James Version of Scripture where I made a modification that translates "chagag" as [Jewish Dance]:

"Three times thou shalt [Jewish Dance] unto me in the year. (15) Thou shalt keep the [Jewish Dance] of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:) (16) And the [Jewish Dance] of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the [Jewish Dance] of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field. (17) Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord [Yahuwah] GOD." Exodus 23:14-17

"Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD [Yahuwah] thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD [Yahuwah] empty:"
Deuteronomy 16:16 KJV

It should be noted that Passover and Unleavend Bread are often treated as one Holiday because they are back to back, Passover on the 14th and Unleavend Bread on the 15th through the 21st. First Fruits will also be included as a Jewish Dance day as it always lies within the seven day Feast of Unleavend Bread. They are basically one big eight day celebration, celebrating the early harvest and marking the beginning of Yahuwah's year. It's similar to the seven day celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles combined with an additional eighth day for the closing ceremony. This eight day celebration honors the latter harvest of crops and points to the latter day harvest of souls into Yahuwah's Kingdom.

It should also be noted that sometimes people read Exodus 23:17, and believe that only the males are supposed to celebrate these Feasts. However in Deuteronomy the Scripture makes it clear that everyone is to come celebrate these important Holidays:

"And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD [Yahuwah] thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD [Yahuwah] thy God hath chosen to place his name there." Deuteronomy 16:11 KJV

To summarize, Yahuwah instructs His people to celebrate the following Feasts or Holidays with Circle Dance:

Passover/Unleavened Bread/First Fruits
Pentecost
Feast of Tabernacles

Voluntary Times to Dance:

At Sabbath Meetings
New Moon Festivals (Count downs to the Biblical Holidays)
Ministry Outreaches
Family Bible Studies
Birthdays
Weddings
Wedding Anniversaries
Betrothals / Wedding Engagements
Grand Openings
Harvest Times
Graduations
Any Time Your Heart is full of Joy!
Any Time You Desire to Praise Yahuwah!