Amman, Jordan – Breslev Hassidim Dancing In Jordanian Airport Stirs Massive Controversy

    22

    Amman, Jordan – A group of Israeli Hassidim are being accused of carrying out a “ritual Talmudic dance” on Tuesday morning while waiting to board their plane in Queen Alia International Airport in Amman. 

    Join our WhatsApp group

    Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email


    What was in fact a traditional Jewish circle dance, accompanied by guitar music and Hebrew singing, has morphed into a social media controversy in Jordan, and was considered so offensive to Jordanians that it had to be denounced in the Jordanian parliament. 

    In the viral video, a group of eight men, identifiable as Breslev Hassidim by their attire, are singing a Hebrew song that celebrates marriage. However, some Jordanian media has misread the dance as a “ritual Talmudic dance” meant as a provocation. 

    One Jordanian tweeter, who according to his Twitter profile is a doctor in the Health Ministry, wrote that: “He who was sitting in the airport and saw the dance and wasn’t provoked is a pig and more piglike then the Jews themselves.”

    The editor- in-chief of the Hamas media outlet Siraj Media tweeted that the “airport dance”–the hashtag being used on social media in Arabic– “isn’t the problem, but rather the acceptance of Israel as a reality” is the issue.

    One woman jokingly wrote “A popular call to dance the Dabkeh at OIAA.” (Dabkeh is a traditional Middle Eastern circle.)

    On Tuesday, according to The Jordanian Times, Jordanian MP’s discussed the “ritual dance” video during a Lower House session. MPs Yihya Saud, Bassam Btoush and Tarek Khoury reportedly criticized Amman’s “inaction” over the “provocative” dance performed by “Zionist Israelis” at the airport. The MPs argued that Jordanians would never be allowed to do such an act in Israel. 

    The Jordanian Interior Minister Hussein Majali sought to allay fears, saying that the Israelis’ dance at QAIA did not exceed five minutes, and that airport security immediately took the dancing Israelis to the plane they were taking. 

    In an article for Al Jazeera Arabic–in which the dance is referred to as a “ritual dance”–the management for QAIA presented a different picture from the press and the Jordanian MP’s who spoke about the incident. The Director of Media and Communication at the airport, Zahiya al-Na’asan, explained that “the video was very short and did not arouse anger to those present [at the time].” 

    She added that “the management of the airport did not receive a single complaint from any passenger about the incident that took place.” Na’asan also denied that the dance was “an expression of a Jewish religious ritual.”

    Jordanian-Israeli Relations 

    Jordan and Israel signed a peace agreement in 1994. However, the Jewish State remains unpopular among the majority of Jordanians, a large number of whom are of Palestinian descent.

    Yet relations between the two governments remain healthy. In late February, they agreed to carry out the “Red-Dead” project, which will supply water for both Israelis and Jordanians and replenish the dwindling Dead Sea. Israeli Energy and Water Resources Minister Silvan Shalom, who went to Amman to sign the agreement, called it “the most significant agreement since the peace treaty with Jordan.”


    Listen to the VINnews podcast on:

    iTunes | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Podbean | Amazon

    Follow VINnews for Breaking News Updates


    Connect with VINnews

    Join our WhatsApp group


    22 Comments
    Most Voted
    Newest Oldest
    Inline Feedbacks
    View all comments
    Curiosity
    Curiosity
    9 years ago

    Fact Check:
    “the Jewish State remains unpopular among the majority of Jordanians, a large number of whom are of Palestinian descent.”
    That’s an outright backwards lie propagated by classical Anti-Semitic revisionist history. “Palestinians” are largely of Jordanian descent, not the other way around.
    Being “balanced” doesn’t compel a need to lie and rewrite history.

    Normal
    Normal
    9 years ago

    “One woman jokingly wrote “A popular call to dance the Dabkeh at OIAA.” (Dabkeh is a traditional Middle Eastern circle.)”

    No, it’s a “davkah”. Davkah to annoy the arabs. Not sure what they were thinking and how it could possibly be a positivel thing for Jews.

    9 years ago

    These are not chasidim these are just crazys משוגעים

    Sherree
    Sherree
    9 years ago

    That’s so ridiculously funny. Did any of those offended bother to ask if there was a “chassan” among the group or if they were traveling to a wedding?

    9 years ago

    These Breslov dancers are Kooks. Nuts, druggies, they don’t do anything that resembles a ritual dance. Its the things they smoke. They stop in the middle of highways in Eretz Yisroel and do the same . Likewise in Miron on Lag Boomer.

    9 years ago

    Why are these guys going thru Amman airport? There is some problem with Ben Gurion airport?

    MayerAlter
    MayerAlter
    9 years ago

    It does not matter whether it annoyed the Jordanians or not. Civilised people do not behave like this. An airport lounge is just that, not a place to jump about and scream recklessly.

    Haimov
    Haimov
    9 years ago

    And this is Jordan, the most civilized arab country and best friend of USA.
    King Abdullah is a good friend to Obama, always in White House, not like Bibi.
    Maybe Bibi should condemn dancing in Aman airport and it will improve Obama Bibi relationship?!

    commonsense99
    commonsense99
    9 years ago

    they are NOT chasidim they have NOTHING in common with talmiday BST, they are a bunch of crazy drug abusers who picked Reb Nachman because this way they don’t have to answer to anyone, I will bet they never opened up a likauy maran in their entire life, mishagoim like that should be banned from travel

    ayoyo
    ayoyo
    9 years ago

    The heliger Reb Nachman taught –MITZVAH GEDOLAH L’HELIOS B’SIMCHA TAMID- it is a mitzvah to be joyous always

    hashomer
    hashomer
    9 years ago

    So, if a Jew dances, its a “provocation”. And if a Jew breathes, its a “humiliation”. Killing Jews isn’t a problem to the world, but dancing Jews are. And most of the VIN posters seem to agree with this? Now that’s the definition of “self-hating”.

    LionofZion
    LionofZion
    9 years ago

    They are singing and dancing and expressing joy to Hashem. It looks like fun.
    To you critics, is it really that different than shutting down Brooklyn for half a day and using $100,000 for a Hachnas Sefer Torah to celebrate…..children making Brachos loudly?

    howdyoulikethat
    howdyoulikethat
    9 years ago

    A doctor in the Jordanian health ministry wrote ” . . more p-like than the Jews themselves” .

    OK, let’s all go condemn netanyahu for racism.

    SomeYid
    SomeYid
    9 years ago

    They must have confused Uman with Amman.

    9 years ago

    Oh my, What mashgium. It’s not Purim. And neither chodish Adar anymore.

    Normal
    Normal
    9 years ago

    #11 You have to have some sechel when to be b’simcha. You don’t start doing it during a funeral etc.

    lazerx
    lazerx
    9 years ago

    unfortunately of late, Breslov seems to attract many (shall we be nice) people with problems. The old time true Breslovers have become the rarity and the nutty attention getting drug related loonies have taken over the public’s eye and ruined their once fine image as deep and understanding chasidim.

    For this I mourn…