ByNaomi Firsht, Naomi Firsht
Limmud catering co-ordinator Josh Marting hora-ed his way to victory in the event's version of Strictly Come Dancing.
Josh Martin won the Nikki Millan Trophy after performing an energetic Israeli dance with partner Sophie Sumner, in the Strictly Limmud Dancing contest.
He earned the second highest score from the judges and the highest number of audience votes.
The 28-year-old said: “It feels really good to have won. I feel more excited than I expected I would have been.
“The competition was really stiff. I wasn’t confident. I think the lift is what probably did it for us. I am very pleased; it’s a good result for the end of a very tiring, very tough, week organising Limmud food.”
Around 70 people turned out to watch the dance contest, organised by the Israeli Dance Institute, which followed the same format as the popular TV show Strictly Come Dancing, pairing guest "celebrities" with experienced dancers.
Board of Deputies chief executive Gillian Merron won second place – and the highest judges’ score – with a graceful folk dance.
Organiser Maurice Stone said: “I think it was an amazing session. People gave up so much effort and time to make it work. I think it is really important that we show that Israel can be a place of fun and culture not just a place where we’re worried about the political situation all the time. I hope that the people who participated will take their engagement with Israel further and continue to dance.”
Uri Berkowitz and Claire Strauss hammed it up as co-presenters with ridiculous wigs, thick accents and plenty of puns. Natalie Grazin, the 2012 winner, made a special appearance to perform a new dance and the audience was entertained by the Oranim Dance Troupe while the votes were counted.
Choreographer Ilai Szpiezak, who choreographed the whole show, said: “I think Strictly Limmud Dancing was great this year. We have a fantastic team of participants and dancers, and it is a lovely session to have at Limmud, in between all the serious ones, it’s nice to also to have a little bit of fun and still engage culturally with Israel.
As for this JC reporter, who competed as one of the "celebrities", partnered by Ilai Szpiezak,”, I am pleased to say that his technique of shouting each step to me over the music meant I stumbled through the routine without too many wrong moves.
Although the overall experience was more fun than I thought it would be, it was still fairly terrifying getting up on stage and performing to an audience.
And considering I came in last on the judges’ scores, it would be safe to say that Caroline Flack still has nothing to worry about.