Re: second class citizen and all the rest of it and a request

[Judy Git <hillel...>]

The issue of second class citizenship for women within orthodoxy is certainly
problematic.  Theoretically, women are not second class citizens;
practically, that's hard to justify.  In the final analysis, you are
what you believe yourself to be.  I go, when I can, to orthodox shuls.
(Where I am now I'm walking distance to a conservative one.)  Some
of them make me feel really unwelcome; others make me feel right at home. 
The mere fact of sitting separately from men is pretty insignificant to
me.  I have plenty of time to cuddle with my husband other than when
I'm supposed to be davening.  Shuls where the Torah is never to approach
the women's section out of some kind of principle would be offensive to
me, too.  But this is not a statement about orthodoxy; it's a statement
about the particular administration and congregation of that particular
shul.  As I suggested before - they can make me feel unwelcome, but
never second class, because I'm NOT.

In the context of this forum, I think the most significant issue is the issue of Kol Isha.  This is one of the few issues where I disagree IN PRINCIPLE with the orthodox stance.  I believe that whatever talents G-d gave us we have not only the right, but the RESPONSIBILITY to share with others - to use them to better the world.  To say that fully half of the world's population are not ALLOWED to use their musical talent - those who have it - is, in my opinion, CONTRARY to G-d's desire.  Any comments?

Finally, a request from all of you out there.  (Any information would be greatly appreciated.)  I have signed up to teach a class in adult education on the topic of Jewish music.  It will be either five or six sessions long - not a lot of ground to cover such a BIG topic.  There are some areas of Jewish music that I feel pretty proficient in - most notably classical Israeli music and modern American Jewish music.  I also know most of the traditional liturgical melodies.  When it comes to Klezmer, Ladino, or cantorial - I know enough to wing a single session, but I'd like to bone up more.  If anyone has some interesting information on ANY of those areas of Jewish music, or on Jewish music in general - it would be tremendously appreciated.  Thank you very much, and Shabbat shalom.

Judy