[HANASHIR:12611] Re: Adding Pro Singers To Choir

[Laura Ferguson <allenderL...>]

At 06:04 PM 10/22/2002 -0400, you wrote:
>  but I just want
>to emphasize that the ideal synagogue choir is an
>all-Jewish mixed amateur/professional group.

I agree with this general idea.

But I would add one category of individual to this list, "aspiring Jews", 
those non-Jewish Singers who are also expected to become full fledged 
members of the community either as converts or members (as non-Jewish 
spouses).  Just after we started dating, my husband and I joined the choir 
at our synagogue.  Only then did he begin to feel comfortable with Judaism, 
the community and the synagogue. Later he became Jewish and a member of the 
congregation (and my spouse).  For him, Jewish music was very much part of 
his learning process in becoming a Jew.

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