[HANASHIR:3002] Re: High Holiday music

[BEBWH <BEBWH...>]

Although you are perfectly correct in choosing how, when and where you want 
to practice your Judaism it is incorrect to rationalize your personal 
disconnection from Halacha by saying the departure will bring others closer 
to Judaism. What Judaism is it you are bringing them to? This is not a 
putdown on any particular form of Judaism but we as leaders do have a 
responsibility to provide as authentic an experience as we can. I was 
perfectly comfortable with the dialogue and peoples expressions of what they 
feel they need to do to function as a professional during the long day of Y"K 
. I heard people speaking on behalf of themselves but nobody had yet poskined 
on behalf of the Klal. When we act as a shalaich tzibur we must realize the 
tzibur is counting on us to have them in mind with every word we say/sing. We 
also have a responsiblity to try to raise them to the highest level. If you 
need to drink, drink, but please don;t believe or lead others to beleive 
there is any halachic ruling that allows you to do so unless as someone had 
stated there is a health consideration. It says in Pirki Avos (t) sorry, that 
we should be brought up to Torah, not bring the Torah down to us. We are  not 
supposed to think that by compromising halacha people will be brought closer. 
People are brought closer by an authentic answer to their Jewish questions. 
Suggesting that current contempory conditions would allow for such a change 
in the halacha regarding fasting on Y"K is totally untrue. If someone chooses 
to do otherwise I'm sure they would rather do so knowing the whole story as 
opposed to feeling they had some kind of incorrect approval. 

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