"Why we need the hora," by Lenore Skenazy

Here's an interesting Jewish Daily Forward article on Israeli folk dance as a way for people to connect with Israel. As a veteran Israeli folk dancer, I would update this article by saying that Israeli folk dance didn't stop with "Mayim," and that many of the current dances are choreographed with arm movements, often making holding hands impossible (which might open up these dances to traditionalists who believe that males and females who are not close relatives are not permitted to touch one another).

My husband's reaction to this article was to wonder who, other than Israelis (or former Israelis and, perhaps, their children), would still be going Israeli folk dancing once we older folks are gone. It's sad, that many younger people are not being given the opportunity to learn Israeli folk dancing in school or camp.