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[HANASHIR:12597] Re: Adding Pro Singers To Choir

Yes, having professional quality musicians (instrumentalists and/or singers) 
really does help a musical prayer service.  But, "who is a Jew" is a very 
tricky question.  Does someone qualify if they have a Jewish last name or a 
Jewish father but never otherwise step foot in a temple?  What will some in 
the Congregation think if some ARE Jewish but don't LOOK Jewish?  Is it 
appropriate for us to ask these questions or think about them when hiring a 
musician?

Come to think of it, no one ever asked me if I'M Jewish...

Cantor Michael Freed

-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------

> Date: Monday, 21-Oct-02 11:56 PM
> 
> From: Danielkare (at) aol(dot)com       \ America Online: (DANIELKARE)
> To:   Hanashir Mail Server     \ Internet:    (hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org)
> 
> Subject:  [HANASHIR:12583] Re: Adding Pro Singers To Choir
> 
> Sender: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Reply-to:       hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> To:     hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> I apologize if I offend anyone, but I have a strong opinion on the idea of 
> bringing in non-member, non-Jewish paid professionals to a religious 
> service...if they are singing or playing an instrument in a 
synagogue/temple, 
> they are participating in the prayer service, helping to lead prayer, and 
in 
> fact, praying for the people (like a shaliach tsibur).  Therefore, they 
> should be part of the congregation or at least share similar beliefs as the 
> congregation.  It has always bothered me to know that my congregation and 
> other Jewish organizations paid non-Jewish non-members to sing (or play an 
> instrument) while the Jewish members volunteered.  Can't the song choices 
> adapt to the talent available in the congregational or organizational 
> membership?  Does paying outsiders really help, in any way, to improve the 
> quality of the prayer service, not to mention, support Jewish musicians?  
Am 
> I really that radical in my thinking?
> 
> -Karen Daniel
> 
> 
> <HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT  SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" 
FACE="Arial"
> LANG="0">I apologize if I offend anyone, but I have a strong opinion on the
> idea of bringing in non-member, non-Jewish paid professionals to a religious
> service...if they are singing or playing an instrument in a 
synagogue/temple,
> they are participating in the prayer service, helping to lead prayer, and in
> fact, praying for the people (like a shaliach tsibur).  Therefore, they
> should be part of the congregation or at least share similar beliefs as the
> congregation.  It has always bothered me to know that my congregation and
> other Jewish organizations paid non-Jewish non-members to sing (or play an
> instrument) while the Jewish members volunteered.  Can't the song choices
> adapt to the talent available in the congregational or organizational
> membership?  Does paying outsiders really help, in any way, to improve the
> quality of the prayer service, not to mention, support Jewish musicians? 
> Am I really that radical in my thinking?<BR>
> <BR>
> -Karen Daniel<BR>
> </FONT></HTML>
> 

-------- REPLY, End of original message --------

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