I write these words shortly after participating in this year's Limmud Conference organized by the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg where there was a Zumba dance session led by instructor Sharon Delbridge.
Karla Berbrayer is the unanimous choice of the Winnipeg Jewish Review for best Zumba dancer of the 2012 Limmud season.
Berbrayer is a very serious Zumba contender--complete with Zumba gym body shirt, rigorous Zumba movements, long Zumba-like legs, Zumba rhythm and her own personal Zumba water bottle for between songs.
The Berb (short for Berbrayer) mumbad and zumbad right near the front of the room -- the way keeners usually sit at the front of the class. I tried to distract Berbrayer but it didn't work--she can Zumba instinctively and nothing I could do interfered with her groove.
No question about it, Berbrayer is a headliner act. A mover and a shaker. A shaker and a mover. And any combination thereof. I couldn't come close to keeping up with her.
If you are ever thinking of hosting a Zumba party, you will definitely want to invite Berbrayer (even if you don't know her).
In fact, Berbrayer, who is the producer of the Rady JCC's Music N Mavens, ought to consider starting a sister series “Zumba N Mavens" or "Mumba N Zavens"---that would definitely be a crowd pleaser and fill the house at the Rady ZCC.
If not, Berbrayer should be in charge of a Zuper Zunday Zumbathon, or a Muper Munday Mumbathon. She could also probably author the "Zumba Diet” consisting of burning 800-1000 calories per hour Zumba-ing. Delbridge better watch out, Berbrayer may be angling for her job.
I didn't even bring a camera to the Zumba session but still I managed to get a couple of shots of Berbrayer Zumba-ing. (Thanks to Dubi Shlenger that is).
Yasher Koach to all the other contestants.
PRU UR VU
Immediately following the Zumba session I went to hear the session run by Rabbi Moshe Edelman: The four Mitzvot for Jewish Survival.
The first mitzvah that Edelman listed as essential for Jewish survival was "Pru Ur Vu"--the "Be Fruitful and Multipy Mitzvah."
And I kept on thinking that the sessions should have been switched. Who could Pru Ur Vu after just going through a rigorous Zumba session ? If the organizers for Limmud wanted me to be fruitful and multiply, they ought to have told me that before the Zumba session ! I was pooped.
Besides, many in the room were in their 50's and 60's or 70's --what possibly could Rabbi Edelman have expected of us! He should be speaking to J-PEG !
And not only that--but the organizers had also scheduled a Belly-Dancing session at the same time as Edelman was talking about being fruitful and multiplying. (And I began to wonder if the two sessions ought to have been merged).
Seriously, after the Pru Ur Vu Mitzvah, Edelman spoke of covenanting our children (bonding them to Jewish life), giving them a Jewish education, and fourthly, he spoke of the concept of Edud--encouraging the non-Jewish spouse in an intermarried couple to learn about Judaism, (never forced upon them)--but never closing the door on them in terms of developing a connection to Jewish life. One participant thought that Shabbat should be one of the four mitzvot for Jewish survival.
Rabbi Edelman's best line was when he spoke about his agreement with his dentist who is also a member of his congregation. "We agreed that I'd come to see him twice a year for a checkup, and that he'd come to see me twice a year!."
He also spoke about the need for those within the Conservative movement to be more pro-active in doing more individual learning on their own, making it a part of their lives.
Editor's note: The Editor will be writing more about the various Limmud sessions attended over the course of the next few weeks. Overall, Limmud was excellent ! Stay Tuned.
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