[HANASHIR:14695] Re: secular music

[sholom <sholom...>]

> I think the challenge we have
> as educators, is to make a connection to whatever we are introducing, to
> something Jewish.

Perhaps -- but even better: try to introduce something Jewish to begin with.

> I loved Sholom's example. Take the song "Imagine." It
> could have been a great opportunity to talk about why some might turn
> away from religion because of its misuses, and how liberal Judaism
> addresses those issues.

To clarify: someone _else_ had spoken about using "Imagine" as a 9/11
anniversary thing.  I'm not sure I can even imagine (pun intended) _ever_
using that song in a Jewish school -- unless it was specifically to point
out that many people are anti-religious.  (And even still, I'm not sure I
would set up a debate in front of kids between me and John Lennon, because
I would assume that John Lennon would win).

"Imagine" is the quintessential "universalist" song -- we are all one and
there are no differences.  The obvious question that it begs, in a Jewish
setting is: if the sentiments in "Imagine" are correct, what's the point
of being Jewish?  Why bother?  Don't I just have to be a "nice person."

Indeed -- this feeds right in to the number one cause of total
assmimilation: it is our young people's inability to be able to
distinguish between being "a good person" and "a good Jew."

Where there is no distinction, and "Imagine" prays for the day where there
is no such distinction, there is no reason to remain Jewish.

And therefore I think "Imagine" is a most inappropriate song to be singing
in a Jewish setting.

One last comment:

> away from religion because of its misuses, and how liberal Judaism
> addresses those issues.

Why only "liberal Judaism"?

-- Sholom






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