[HANASHIR:2460] Re: gospel redux

[GurevitzR <GurevitzR...>]

Got to come in on this gospel debate briefly.  I'm in Manhattan at the moment
- just back from the most amazing evening at the Ma'yan Seder - but that's not
the subject of this email.  I went to Bnei Jeshurun for the 1st time on Friday
night and was moved to tears.  I went to a gospel service in Harlem on Sunday
morning and was moved to tears (now, some of you who know me from hava nashira
may think I do this regularly, but it seems to happen to me mostly in the US -
I'm not known to go soggy very often in the UK).  The ruach was incredible in
both places and both for the same reasons: *everyone* in the community at both
places were singing their hearts out and were really present in the moment of
the prayers.  If Reform Judaism can call C19th German classical music
'traditional' (which it does in the UK), then I see no reason for not adopting
'gospel' rhythms and melodies for Jewish music now.  It is great stuff And
(ref. Rich's comment) ... it's about time Jews learnt to clap on 2 and 4 (and
off the beat).

Rachel

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