Five DJs, two broad, 2,500 women dancing for eight hours and a joint midnight prayer • For four years there has been a women's only party in Jerusalem • DJ Racheli Ankri explains how it grows

• Racheli Ankri and Miri Raspberry on the music

  Photo:

  Yael Shelah

What do religious women do who want to dance at a party but can't do it in your mixed company men and women? They only organize a party for women with DJs who dance them for eight hours straight.

For four years Medi Purim has been organizing such a party in Jerusalem, to which thousands of religious women from all over the country come. This year the party will be held on March 10 at the Pavilion halls in the Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem starting at 9pm. The party is organized by Racheli Ankeri, whose stage name is DJ daja, together with DJ Miri Patel.

"For years I was a soundman, a sound teacher, and six years ago I came to the world of recording," says Racheli, 34, who lives in Moshav Zafriya. "From the moment I got to this and took to the stage - I realized it was a different art. I record productions for women, but also for festivals with mixed events for women and men. Although I am religious, I have no problem catching up on mixed events.

"Some may not take a religious woman to shelter. By the way, our ultra-Orthodox or secular ultra-Orthodox women do not come. Those who come are women from the national religious community."

How was the idea of ​​the parties born?

"It was created from a vacuum. Miri and I felt we had nowhere to dance. Girls began to approach us and ask about women's parties, and we realized there was a need out of the area. We realized it had an audience.

"In Jerusalem there are two options: Hasidic dances, where only Hasidic music is played, or parties in the Mahane Yehuda market that are mixed, women and men together, so women cannot dance there. We have to address these women who live between the worlds and who have no home to dance in."

According to Racheli, "Purim will be the fourth time this year for the party. We are doing the party on Shushan Purim, a day to celebrate. This year there will be 2,500 women from all over the country. The party will have five quite a few. Jays women - all mothers and religious. - 9 PM and lasts until 5:00 AM At midnight there is a joint prayer for Shai Sabri's 'King' song, each praying for itself but the time of prayer is shared because it is an hour called 'Willing Time', an hour of opening hearts. - 5:00 am, we start reading the scroll. "

So do women come for a full night?

"Yes, women come from all over the country and dance all night. There are some who bring sleeping bags and can sleep in the corner, but they mostly come to dance. The music is of all kinds: Loazi, Hebrew, trance. The women who come are all ages, soldiers, young mothers and even girls 70. There are two broad parties at the party. "

Is there anything you shouldn't play?

"We play everything, but if there are songs with obscene words or songs that humiliate women - we won't play them of course."

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