[HANASHIR:8250] HANASHIR digest 1149 Kol Isha

[ItaSara <ItaSara...>]

If a woman's voice is not to be heard in public or before men, what is this 
inner voice I have that urges me to sing? It is not the voice of man 
(generally speaking); it isn't a sin or flaw of my character; it must be the 
voice of God, otherwise why would God have given me this talent and urge?     
I know I can effect in some people a spiritual feeling about a song or a 
prayer on the occassional times I have this opportunity. I feel I am doing 
something to make the day special for someone else whether it be at Temple, 
or at a nursing home, or other places; at least that is the impression I have 
from the feedback I have received. This is my contribution because that is 
who I am.  It would be torture for me, not self discipline or religious 
discipline, to pretend to agree with the age old custom to not sing in 
public. Believe me I'm not doing it to make an income!!

The world has changed and changed and I think the whole issue of Halacha 
needs to be looked at again;  Hence comes other denominations of Judaism, 
because if Halacha were the "only" way, then I think there would be no need 
for opposition just as if we all believed the Xtian ideology was the true 
ideology, we'd all go in that direction too, but in our hearts we cannot. And 
in my heart I know that the female voice needs to be heard along with the 
male voice. 

I posted my feeling in the Jewish Community at AOL, and an orthodox rabbi 
responded that there are other ways to find happiness in Jewish life.  As a 
singer, I could not disagree more. I would be a lot more depressed  if I 
tried to hide or ignore  an inborn skill and inborn desire to do something 
special in my life. 

itasara (at) aol(dot)com

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