[HANASHIR:11652] Re: Another opinion about sharing our music

[Shirona <shirona...>]

Dear Laura,

As a music teacher/performer I'm sure you are aware of the huge number of songs 
that we Jews "shnorer" from the goyyim... Our own national anthem is (according 
to the scholars) a Rumanian horse and buggy song.  The Hassidim consider it a 
mitzvah to take a "secular" tune, most likely from the local non-Jews, and 
"make it kosher" by assigning sacred texts to it. Groups like Schlock Rock make 
a living from doing exactly this.  The popular "Ein Keloheinu" is, alas, a 
German drinking song....The more you delve into this subject the more you may 
discover that there really is no such thing as pure "Jewish Music"...

The texts are a different matter - but we have no "claims" on any music.  
Besides, music has a universal, unifying power - and thank G-d for that!  If it 
helps us see that we're all so similar, and praying to the same G-d, we might 
not be so uptight about our differences.  Have a little faith...the "other" 
religions "stole" everything from us anyway - whether it's believing in one 
G-d, the Sabbath, the Bible... and we're still around, right?  I'm also 
concerned about assimilation - but I believe it's more because of "us" than 
"them"...

Shirona  

Our music is one of our greatest treasures and a legacy we hand down to our 
children with our rituals, prayers and core JEWISH values.
Personally, I abhor the thought of a bunch of goyim desecrating our sacred 
songs.  Our songs are sacred when the melodies, words and kavanah come from a 
pure Jewish neshama (soul).  You may say they respect it, but I contend that 
they will still be using it for their purposes to get our children on their 
path.  (Just as we have adopted some gospel works for our own purposes). 

Assimilation is tearing away at the fabric of our people,  I do not feel that 
we should be giving the world the scissors to do it with by freely sharing our 
sacred music. 

Laura Solkowitz RN 
Pre-school - 6th Grade Performance Music - Hillel Day School Raleigh, NC 
Patient Educator, WakeMed Rehab Raleigh, NC 

lsolkowitz (at) aol(dot)com 

"He who has saved one life, it as if he has saved an entire world" - Talmud