[HANASHIR:9104] Non-Jewish organists, etc.

[Callie Maidhof <anomocal...>]

For me, the issue with a non-Jewish organist would be intent.  With as 
much work as we put into each service to make it perfect - perfect 
music, musicians, sermon, attendance, sound, lights, atmosphere, ... - I 
think we can forget that in the end it's not a performance.  It's not a 
theatre production or a musical show.  It should be a prayer .  The 
congregation should be able to see and hear the prayer so that they can 
find it in their own hearts.  Every note an instrumentalist plays, or a 
singer sings, was written as a prayer; and should be treated as such.  A 
non-Jewish organist may have trouble praying the notes instead of 
playing them, not because he is inferior or unfeeling, but because he 
doesn't hold the same beliefs!  I would have trouble singing a solo for 
a Catholic mass, or playing my guitar.  The reason we hold services is 
so that we may gather and pray. In a society where we are the minority, 
we set aside a few times a week or less when we know everyone else in 
the room believes in basically the same things.

I'm not saying a non-Jewish instrumentalist is always inappropriate; it 
just has to be handled correctly.

Respectfully,
Callie Maidhof
Overland Park, Kansas