RE: Variations on Adon Olam

[yoel epstein <yoel...>]

Why isn't it appropriate?  I was recently at a wedding here in Israel, where 
the Rabbi - and we're talking serious Bnei Brak style orthodoxy here - sang the 
seven blessings to the tune of Wagner's Wedding March.  I thought about going 
up to him after and telling him that the tune was written by the most vicious 
antisemitic composer ever, Hitler's favorite.  But I relented - if the tune has 
meaning and tradition for him, what difference does it make?

In the synagogue in Kfar Shmaryahu (also respectable orthodox, presided over by 
one of Israel's leading orthodox rabbis) the choir sings the liturgy 
beautifully to tunes by Verdi, Rossi, Beethoven.  Why is this wrong?

Yoel Epstein

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From:   Maxwell St[SMTP:MaxwellSt (at) aol(dot)com]
Sent:   éåí ùéùé 27 ôáøåàø 1998 20:43
To:     World music from a Jewish slant.
Subject:        Re: Variations on Adon Olam

In a message dated 98-02-27 00:37:43 EST, you write:

<< There's a classical music enthusiast at our shul who, on the Shabbos
 closest to Ludwig's birthday, tried to cajole the cantor into singing Adon
 Olam to "Ode to Joy", which of course it fits like a glove. He was told
 gently that it wasn't appropriate. >>

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