Dance Dance Revolution, Jew Point 0
A Jewish version of “Dance Dance Revolution” is coming to a shul near you. Just in time for Hanukkah, “Step It Up” is a new game designed for Orthodox Jews who’d prefer to get down to techno versions of Hebrew and Yiddish tunes than to Lady Gaga’s racy lyrics.
The game’s inventor, Faigy Grossman, 25, told The New York Post, “The game meets our standards for modesty. Many [Orthodox Jews] just won’t listen to non-Jewish music. They’re also offended by graphics showing women dancing in the background.” Enter “Step It Up” (see video below), which features images of (fully-clothed) popular Jewish music stars like Lipa Schmeltzer, whose techo-infused songs are biblically inspired. The game’s website boats “Turn your computer or laptop into a dance machine!” and promotes the game as an ideal fitness regime.
Grossman, a former teacher from an all-girls yeshiva, created the game’s concept three years ago after a field trip with her students. They encouraged her to give “Dance Dance Revolution” a try, and while she had fun with it, she felt “the music just wasn’t appropriate,” according to the Post. So she got to work, learning the program and financing her own version of the game.
Earlier this month, Grossman’s creation hit Jewish-owned toy stores in Brooklyn and New Jersey. Michael Tool, manager of Toys for Thought in Lakewood, N.J., says it’s already a hot item. Tool is happy to have it on his shelves. “Finally, here’s something that’s kosher,” he explained. Amen.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning journalism this Passover.
In this age of misinformation, our work is needed like never before. We report on the news that matters most to American Jews, driven by truth, not ideology.
At a time when newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall. That means for the first time in our 126-year history, Forward journalism is free to everyone, everywhere. With an ongoing war, rising antisemitism, and a flood of disinformation that may affect the upcoming election, we believe that free and open access to Jewish journalism is imperative.
Readers like you make it all possible. Right now, we’re in the middle of our Passover Pledge Drive and we still need 300 people to step up and make a gift to sustain our trustworthy, independent journalism.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
Only 300 more gifts needed by April 30
