[HANASHIR:8027] Re: What makes a song Jewish (Tu B'Shevat songs)

[Rglauber <Rglauber...>]

In a message dated 1/24/01 6:03:08 AM, DurlKare (at) aol(dot)com writes:

<< My personal definition is: it either teaches something FROM OUR TRADITION, 
or else has some Hebrew or Yiddish words, or an English translation of 
something in our VAST literature of knowledge and prayer....The songs 
mentioned for Tu B'Shevat are NICE but not JEWISH.  We have such little time 
with our students and congregations, why waste it on bringing the outside 
world in? >>

This is a pretty strong and clear expression of what I consider to be the 
predominant attitude of organized Jewry.  Namely that we are to look within, 
we are to keep the "outside world" outside and educate the Jewish community 
with an inward focus.  After all, didn't our ancestors make all those 
sacrifices, suffer all those indignities.  This model has served for 
thousands of years and brought us to here.

Of course, there are some problems with this approach, not the least of which 
is that it perpetuates the idea of "separation" between the Jews and 
everybody else.    
For the millions of unafilliated Jews in the US, the "inward looking" model 
makes it easy to stay away.  It's too much to buy into.  

I come down strongly on the side of reaching out, of sharing our traditions 
with the "outside" world, and in fact, working to end those distinctions.  
Part of that is to be open to other traditions, other music and ways of doing 
things.  Then Judaism has a context.  It's not the be-all and end-all.  This 
feels healthier to me, more inviting, more accessible.  

This debate has been going on for centuries, and I'm certain that it will 
continue.  Both sides of the coin are equally valid.  

Rich Glauber
"Let the sunshine, let the sunshine in, the sunshine in"

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