Re: Singing Jewish music in church

[Rachelle and Howard Shubert <shubert...>]

Dear Karen,

I relate to your feelings.  Some years ago I was asked by a friend who had
converted to Christianity from her Jewish upbringing some years before we
met, if I would sing a Jewish song at her wedding.  She wanted me to sing
the Sh'ma.  I was horrified and had to refuse.  Instead, I offered to sing
Erev Shel Shoshanim.  

Since that time I have been asked by the music director of a local
Christian church to sing (for pay) at a service.  I have not felt
comfortable with this.  I feel that it would be misconstrued.  However, I
have, on a number of occasions, sung Jewish and other songs for a Unitarian
Congregation on a professional basis.  I do not feel compromised doing
this, rather that I am sharing.

I think in an interfaith setting where there are other delegates from your
synagogue and the idea is dialogue and clearly not conversion, the feeling
would be different.

Hope these ramblings help.

Rachelle








At 21:19 21/03/98 EST, you wrote:
>To all my music friends:
>
>As a new performer of Jewish music, I am always eager to perform my
>songs.....Recently I was asked to sing at a church, for pay.
>
>I would like to hear any comments, opinions, or suggestions which you all
have
>on the subject of performing Jewish music in a church setting, and would like
>to share with you some of my thoughts. 
>
>Our Temple has been very involved in recent years in interfaith relations,
>inviting ministers to speak, sending our rabbi to speak at churches...in the
>hope of creating more understanding and tolerance.  Part of my reasoning for
>wanting to sing at the church is in the spirit of this type of effort. 
>
>Another reason: the people I work with are now trained in the fact that I am
>Jewish, and what that means, and know about my holidays, and so on, but many
>people in the greater community don't have the opportunity to...let's
>say...mingle.  I feel that there is an educational component as well, which I
>can offer, through my music.
>
>I do, however, have some reservations.  I would not want to give the
>impression that I am in any way associated with the church and its
beliefs.  I
>would not want anyone to make the assumption that I am a follower of both
>Christianity and Judaism.
>
>Have any of you faced a similar situation and how have you handled it?
>
>-Karen D.
>
>
Rachelle Mingail Shubert
Montreal
shubert (at) total(dot)net