[HANASHIR:3543] Re: This List

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Hmm,  Neil, I have to say that on a gut level I agree with you.  This list
is wonderful, but occasionally a bit preachy.  Having said that, I think
that is one of the occupational hazards of organized religion (about which
I admit to some ambivalence).  One does have to worry, not only about what
one thinks is appropriate, but what other people are going to think is
appropriate.  It is easy to get into trouble perfectly innocently.  I hope
this does not sound too cynical, but yeah, I guess I am somewhat cynical. 
Emily

----------
> From: NeilNFW (at) aol(dot)com
> To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
> Subject: [HANASHIR:3542] This List
> Date: Tuesday, July 20, 1999 12:57 AM
> 
> Hello all,
> 
> I have been a member of this list for three years now.  When I first
signed 
> on, I was treated to a creative sharing of ideas and a place where 
> songleaders could seek aid in finding sources and new material.  It was
also 
> a fun place with an occasional weird joke by Brian Serle or a 
> toungue-in-cheek comment from Rick Lupert.
> 
> I am troubled by the number of times that I have seen a question phrased
"I 
> am doing such and such.  Is this OK?" and many responses coming back "I
would 
> never..." or "Halachically speaking...."  We are not a council or
governing 
> body.  The music that we create, the atmosphere that we create must live 
> through each of us or die.  I think that it is great that someone has
added a 
> verse to "Master of all Things," or that someone wants to do L'cha Dodi
when 
> they feel it is appropriate.  Tradition may dictate otherwise, but
tradition 
> is also a living thing.  If I want to set a mood by singing Sim Shalom at
the 
> beginning of a Friday night service, I think that's peachy.  Will I be 
> stricken and cursed because Sim Shalom is a "morning prayer?"  Will I be 
> expelled by my congregation?  No.  I will still be a songleader the next 
> morning.
> 
> A question:  I take requests during religion school.  Have any of you who
do 
> the same ever said "no" to a song becuase it is the wrong time of year? 
I 
> won't say no to a student who wants to sing "O! Chanukah" in February. 
That 
> student has a love for the music.  What I do is now living through him or
her.
> 
> Please, there are so many negatives in life.   Let's not set dicta. 
Let's 
> not come down on people simply because we have are own opinions, which
are 
> merely that.  Let's share and expand and live.
> 
> Yours,
> Neil Weinstein
> Bellevue, WA
> 

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