[HANASHIR:8036] Re: What makes a song Jewish (Tu B'Shevat songs)

[Freedabet <Freedabet...>]

It's certainly not a matter of keeping anything in particular out of the 
synagogue (unless it is intrinsically unsuitable), but choices have to be 
made of what to do with the limited time you have available.  Most 
congregants are exposed to the outside world over 99% of the time.  The 1% of 
the time that we may have their attention has to be used very wisely.

Michael

-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------

> Date: Wednesday, 24-Jan-01 11:01 AM
> 
> From: Rglauber (at) aol(dot)com         \ America Online: (RGLAUBER)
> To:   Hanashir Mail Server     \ Internet:    (hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org)
> 
> Subject:  [HANASHIR:8027] Re: What makes a song Jewish (Tu B'Shevat songs)
> 
> Sender: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Reply-to:       hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> To:     hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> 
> 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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