[HANASHIR:9089] RE: Jewish organists

[Adrian Durlester <durleste...>]

Rich:

There is nothing in my attitude that suggests superiority. That is a classic
misunderstanding of the basic tenets of Judaism, most often used by
Judaism's detractors and self-loathing Jews. If anything, the chosen-ness of
Judaism is a burden, not a mark of superiority.

And I never suggested that one MUST be a Jew to play Jewish music. Sarcastic
extensions are absurdities. Anyone can play anything. But there are levels.
Can I play the accordion like you can? No. So what you play will likely
sound better than what I might play on the accordion. Does that make either
of us superior? No, just different. And different is OK.

I will always argue that SOME exclusivity is not a bad thing. If there is no
exclusivity allowed, ever, then we might as well all pack it in and go home.
Should I, a practicing Jew, expect to be able to receive communion? Should a
smoker be permitted to smoke in a non-smoking area? Should accordion players
be permitted to simply burst into song in a public library reading room?
Being a member of a particular group is always bad? Since when?

I received my theology degree from a nominally Christian divinity school. I
doubt any of my former classmates there would accuse me of simply giving lip
service to interfaith issues. I don't consider myself superior in any way
because I am a Jew.

I am saddened you are uncomfortable with the yoke of covenant, but, by all
means, do as you will. One can say what they want about Judaism and it's
faults, and we have many, but, unlike Babylon, Greece, Rome, Torquemada &
Hitler, we're still here. That's gotta mean something. Being chosen works as
well as any other explanation for me. But we're not the only ones still
around.  Judaism's daughter religions are still around thousands of years
later. So chosen-ness doesn't automatically equate with "better-ness."

Adrian

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org [mailto:owner-hanashir (at) 
> shamash(dot)org]On
> Behalf Of Richard Glauber

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