RE: Debbie Friedman

[Leonard S. Goldfine <Leonard.S.Goldfine-1...>]

Responding To:    Joel Bresler <jbresler (at) ma(dot)ultranet(dot)com>
Original Date:    Tue, 20 Apr 1999 10:51:53 -0400
> 
In today's world with mass technology and mass data collection, recording, 
and storage, how necessary is it that we debate the "Jewish-ness" of Debbie 
Friedman's music?  

Let me begin by stating that I havn't read the article under debate, so my 
comments may be a little off subject, but (I'd like to believe) are still 
worthy nonetheless.

We ask ourselves "What will Jewish-American music be like in 100 years, and 
can we live with our predictions?"  My answer is that any prediction is 
irrelevent, because the heart of the matter does not really rest on the 
music itself, rather whether or not that music gives individuals a sense of 
connectedness to their Jewish identity.  (I emphasize "individuals" because 
there will never be one, single answer that pertains to every Jew in the 
world.) Around the world, different cultures have different ideas about 
what is "Jewish" music.  An example from Hawaii could be completely 
different from an example from New York which could be completely different 
from an example from Ethiopia.

Even though I personally feel more in touch with my Jewish identity while 
singing/playing something labled as "traditional," I still feel that 
composers such as Debbie Friedman have written nice tunes that kept me 
interested in Jewish music while at a young age (camp-goers know what I 
mean).  

While the thought of Jewish music reaching the level of "Christian Rock" 
apalls me, I can not deny its (Christian Rock's) appeal to its followers.  
Within that genre, kids (and sometimes adults) can connect their faith to 
their popular culture.  Will this be the future for American-Jewish music? 
I don't know (but I hope not.)  [Food for thought: is Gospel any less 
religious than Gregorian Chant?]

Today there is so much information about traditional Jewish musics that 
anyone interested will have no problems finding it: research or recordings.  
Let's keep in mind that it doesn't matter what music we/they listen to, 
we're all still Jewish, we're all still individuals, we all have different 
tastes, and we all connect to our faith in different ways.

Respectfully,

Leonard S. Goldfine
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Department of Educational Policy and Administration
Graduate Student Program Coordinator for Hillel






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