[HANASHIR:14656] Re: secular music

[Joel Shickman <mishpucha...>]

I am gladdened (is that a word?) to hear so much affection for some of 
the great songwriters that I grew up listening to.  There are many of us 
who will ensure their songs rightful immortality.  My house was often 
filled with the music and words of Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Bob 
Dylan, PPM, the Beatles and many more artists who were trying to find 
common bonds between us and promote tikkun olam (fixin' the world).  I 
was old enough to understand and cry when Lennon was killed and hopeful 
enough to be inspired by 'Imagine' for years after his senseless death. 
 Many of these songs can heal emotional wounds, prompt social action and 
reveal age-old truths.

**however**

When I teach in a religious school or lead a religious service, I prefer 
to use texts that are uniquely Jewish.  The message can be 
universalistic (peace, love, understanding), but I feel more comfortable 
using the words of men and women who were inspired by a Jewish moment in 
their lives (from Torah, from our Rabbis, from our Jewish songwriters). 
 I feel that the best way to make Judaism a gift to our children is to 
show them the beauty and passion that can be found within.  I cannot 
properly express my sense of awe when I sing or daven a text that was 
used by my father, his father and so on through past generations.  It is 
another way to connect me to my ancestors; some as far back as Sinai. 
 The more I study Hebrew texts (Torah, Talmud, Siddur), the more I find 
topics applicable to today's world.

I don't want to shut my eyes to the non-Jewish world, I just want to see 
it through Jewish lenses.

Joel Shickman
Dallas, Texas
mishpucha (at) mindspring(dot)com

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