[HANASHIR:7898] Re: Guitar-led service in Israel prevented

[Marc Levy <malevyrc...>]

Hi,

    I don't think that we should jump into a religious freedom battle against 
the
Mashgiach of the Crowne Plaza.  It's quite likely that the hotel staff was just 
feeding
Adam a line?

Marc

Adam Griff wrote:

> I returned Thursday from participating in this year's Birthright Israel trip
> through Hillel.  The ten days I spent in Israel were incredible.  I brought
> my guitar with me and intended to help lead a Reform service Friday night.
> The Reform service was held in a room in the Crowne Plaza in Jerusalem,
> where we were staying.  Just a few minutes before the service was to begin,
> I was informed by hotel staff that I could not play my guitar.  Apparently
> the mashkiach of the hotel had threatened to revoke the hotel's kashrut
> certificate if I played my guitar on Shabbat.  Not wishing to ruin the
> sanctity of Shabbat, we did not protest.  The Rabbi leading the service and
> I went on to lead a wonderfully spirited service which was very well
> received by many students who rarely if ever attended Shabbat services.
>
> I know that Reform services in other hotels used guitars without any
> incident.  The mashkiach of the Crowne Plaza didn't seem to have any problem
> with people smoking in the lobby or the bar selling drinks on Shabbat.
>
> My own views on religious pluralism are presently in a state of confusion,
> but I'm curious to the views of the people on this list.
>
> B'Shalom,
> Adam Griff
>

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