Haredi brothers literally flipping out

(Nati Shohat /FLASH90

Miki and Yehuda Hayat have brought Capoiera to Israel’s haredi Orthodox community. (Nati Shohat /FLASH90)

Modern Orthodox Jews who become more observant after a post-high school year in Israeli yeshivas are often said to be “flipping out.”

But Israeli brothers Miki and Yehuda Hayat literally flip, along with performing a variety of other gravity-defying acrobatic moves, when they do Capoeira, the Brazilian martial art that includes dance and music.

The Hayat brothers have almost 200 students in Bnei Brak. (Mendy Hechtman/FLASH90

The Hayat brothers have almost 200 students in Bnei Brak. (Mendy Hechtman/FLASH90

Indeed, it’s fitting that Capoeira is pronounced “cap-wearer” since the two, who are haredi Orthodox and teach almost 200 students in Bnei Brak, manage to keep their kipot on their heads even when upside down.

The Hayat brothers on the street. (Nati Shohat /FLASH90)

The Hayat brothers on the street. (Nati Shohat /FLASH90)

We’d like to see them try it while wearing shtreimels.

Julie Wiener Julie Wiener is a features writer for JTA. Previously, she was the associate editor of The New York Jewish Week, where she wrote about education, food and assorted other topics along with intermarriage.