Bruce Springsteen’s One-Man Hora
At a Washington, DC concert this week, Bruce Springsteen gave the question “Why is this night different from all other nights?” a resounding new answer. I was primed for a rollicking performance, but I never expected a moment of Jewish bliss, since I knew The Boss had been ordained as a preacher in the Church of Rock ‘n’ Roll. He brought a revival tent feeling to the arena, with exhortations such as:
“We made a solemn vow…
to ROCK the HOUSE!But we’re not just gonna ROCK the house,
we’re gonna BUILD a house…We’re gonna take despair,
and build a house of HOPE!We’re gonna take sadness,
and build a house of JOY!We’re gonna take frustration,
and build a house of SEXUAL HEALING!”
That was my first clue that The Boss was ecumenical in his religious fervor. Then he waded into the sea of people at his feet. He saw dozens of signs held aloft by the crowd, collected 10 of his favorites and laid them out on the stage for review. The first one he chose read, “Jonas Brothers, Shmonas Brothers — put these 9-Year Olds OUT ON THE STREET; it was a crowd-pleaser but hardly history-making. But the third sign, it turned out, had the magic touch: It was a huge banner that read, “HAVANAGILA”. I stared in disbelief. I turned to a friend, a veteran of 20 Springsteen concerts, but he’d never experienced a moment like this, either.
As Springsteen stretched his arms wide to show the scroll to the audience, the band got the message and started playing the classic Jewish folk song. The crowd erupted in cheers as Springsteen began a one-man hora, sliding his feet across the stage. Chills washed over me and time stood still. Yes, a miracle happened here as Washington’s Jewish soul melded with the legendary E Street Band for one brief, shining moment … until The Boss tossed that sign on the ground and picked up the next one. But the power of his gesture had its desired effect: I was a changed man — suddenly, I had rhythm!
So the next time you hear The Boss sing the lyric, “A one-way ticket to the Promised Land” in the song “Johnny Bye-Bye,” it might be a sly encouragement to make aliyah, from a preacher who appreciates a banner with chutzpah.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
