[HANASHIR:9084] Re: wedding music & the organ

[BEBWH <BEBWH...>]

In a message dated 5/16/01 7:04:32 AM Central Daylight Time, 
contzius (at) home(dot)com writes:

<< it is a universality found within great works of art. 
 even the hassids could find the jewish in the secular...
  >>

Inded there are many melodies which we use today in Jewish prayer that have 
secular roots. The reference to Chasidim finding the "Jewish in the secular" 
is based on a teaching of the Baal Shem Tov. He taught that everything a Jew 
hears, sees or experiences contains a lesson in his service to G-d. We "make 
havdalah" and seperate the Holy from the not holy. Chasidus teaches us our 
job is to find ways of using everything at our disposal in our service to 
G-d. Using computers and the internet for this list is a great example. When 
we take a secular melody and use it in prayer, we are elevating it to a 
higher spiritual level through it's use.The melody of Napoleans March is 
sometimes used during Shabbos morning davening in Lubavitch. The same tune is 
often used at the end of Birkat Hamazon to Harachaman Hu Yizachaynu L'mot 
ha-Mashiach. There are many other examples I'm sure I could think of but, 
only after another cup of coffee. B. Herst

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