Brooklyn, NY – A Crown Heights filmmaker who devoted an afternoon to spreading happiness throughout New York City has found that his efforts have paid off big time, with a video of his Midtown Manhattan high-five spree up racking in over a quarter of a million views since its release on Sunday.
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The brainchild of 24 year old Meir Kalmanson, High Five New York shows a smiling Kalmanson running up and down Fifth Avenue, high-fiving the outstretched hands of random people trying to hail taxis. Set to the music of a song called Life, by Latvian musician Tobu, the video was filmed in July in the Bryant Park area.
“I wanted to make people smile, give off good energy and good vibes,” Kalmanson told VIN News. “Everyone is always hustling and bustling, trying to grab a taxi. Just the simple act of a high-five can do wonders at a moment when someone is stressed out.”
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Kalmanson, who hails originally from New Haven, Connecticut, said New Yorkers tend to be busy rushing from one place to another.
“There is a lot of tension and this just seemed like a way to lighten up the day,” said Kalmanson.
Response from passers-by and those that he high-fived was overwhelmingly positive, according to Kalmanson.
“People just seemed happy,” said Kalmanson. “There were a lot of smiles, a lot of laughs. Some people did a double take, like ‘what just happened?’ There was one older gentleman who gave me a look that said to me, ‘If I were younger I would have done something like this.’”
High Five New York has caught the attention of mainstream media outlets including The Huffington Post, The Daily News and other sites including Mashable, Digg and Empty Lighthouse Magazine. Kalmanson has received positive feedback from all over the globe from those who have viewed his 84 second video, which has been making the rounds on social media.
“You can never really predict how something will hit and I am honored and amazed by the feedback I have gotten from all over the United States, and even as far away as Germany and Japan, from people who said they want to do something like this where they live.”
Kalmanson, a Chai Lifeline volunteer who pushed one of his campers eight miles in last winter’s Miami marathon, professed a love of doing things for others.
“I figure no matter how much you give, you get a lot more in return,” reported Kalmanson. “A high five is such a simple thing and I was joyous when I saw that it was so well received.”
I’m sure his intentions were good but this will only create a backlash for not really high five’ing the ladies.
Please don’t get on him for touching a females hand for less than a second.
Doubt the Torah had that in mind when the rules were made.
However, be careful because we live in a crazy world and people might not have the same sense of humor that he has.
Kol Hakovode.
As a female, I can only say that if I was innocently trying to hail a cab on a city curb and some hairy, bearded creep came and high-fived me like that I might feel slightly violated, not to mention seriously grossed out by the germ factor.
A pure meshuguneh. In Israel its called “meshugah im te’uda” meaning a certified meshgunah.
Of course there will always be those who say “Oh wow. Mommish a kiddush Hashem”. “Oh I wish others would do the same”. “Ah, a breadth of fresh air. “
Think for one moment. If you saw a black or hispanic do exactly the same, what would you call him? Then call him the exact same.
He is clearly touching some of the women!
Awesome
he defenitely deserves a high five….. across his face, that is!
A nut
Oh get off your high horses–He was having fun and I was having fun watching him. Who cares what color he was–he managed to put a smile on most of the faces he high fived. Hope he does it again somewhere–.
Smiles also work great & are a little more subtle but kul hakavod to Meir Kalmanson for his intense method of spreading light in the world
I love this guy. Why all the halacha talk? He never claimed to represent frumkeit! He’s just trying to have a good time and make people smile. It worked for me.
God bless his soul and all that stuff, he seems like a well meaning guy with a lot of extra time on his “hands”. Any ways I’m sure many New Yorker’s were annoyed by his antics but of course he edited his video to show only the smiles.
I wouldn’t want some stranger high fiving me! I think it’s weird to go running around and jumping up and slapping strangers on the hand. It makes for a funny video but, in reality it’s a violation of privacy.