[HANASHIR:16215] Re: need songs for healing service

[Adrian Durlester <adrian...>]

OK. I'm going to stir up the hornet's nest here.
 
What exactly makes a song a "healing" song? What makes a service a "healing"
service? And what makes a song appropriate or not appropriate for a
"healing" service?
 
I'm just uncomfortable with the label. Music and prayer can bring the power
of healing in many forms, in many situations. And the basic Jewish worship
service already has within it the essential elements of healing prayer.
 
Perhaps what will provide healing to someone is to hear the song "Moving to
Montana" by Frank Zappa, or "I Love Trash" from Sesame Street. I think it is
presumptuous of us to assume certain songs and certain musical styles are
more conducive to healing than others. And I think we sell short the healing
power of music when we do so.
 
I also hear the "Mi Shebeirach" bandied about so casually as being a
"healing song" and a healing prayer. Sadly, because a traditional Mi
Shebeirach is rarely offered for one who has just completed a Torah aliyah
in many liberal congregations, people don't realize that the Mi Shebeirach
exists in more than one form.The Mi Shebeirach is Judaism's utility prayer.
It exists in many versions, each for specific situations.It can be used for
healing, for celebration, or to invoke blessing upon a community. A special
Mi Shebeirach for Refuah Shleima is the basis for the songs that have been
mentioned on this list. More and more, it is becoming common usage to use
just "the Mi Shebeirach" when referring to the refuah shleima version, and
even on many Jewish web sites, it is cited as "the Jewish healing prayer." I
think it important that we recognize that this prayer exists in multiple
forms. Labels do matter.
 
Always the gadfly.
 
Adrian
 
Adrian A. Durlester, MTS
E-mail: adrian (at) durlester(dot)com  www.durlester.com
Director of Education & Congregational Life, Bethesda Jewish Congregation,
Bethesda, MD
www.bethesdajewish.com
Co-Director, Hazamir/JTAI Choir of Greater DC
Past Conf Chair, CAJE 27, August 4-8, 2002, Trinity University, San Antonio,
TX
List Owner, hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org; Jewish Songleaders/Performers List
www.ehavanashira.org
Co-Owner, l-torah (at) shamash(dot)org; Liberal Torah Discussion List


-----Original Message-----
From: owner-hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org [mailto:owner-hanashir (at) 
shamash(dot)org] On
Behalf Of Marsha Fensin
Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2003 4:15 PM
To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
Subject: [HANASHIR:16214] Re: need songs for healing service


Oops, got the Lisas confused--I meant Lisa Levine's Mi Shebeirach--was
particularly a nice one.
Marsha