Re: Germans and Klezmer

[Leopold Friedman <apikoyros...>]

Marvin,
Punishment is God's prerogative.
Forgiveness was the prerogative of
those who suffered and died. We may
not presume to act for them.

I am just asking those well-meaning
(for the most part), talented German
musicians to refrain from intruding in
Yiddish culture if they wish to claim
any sensitivity to human feelings.

Incidentally, if you were a soldier who
"fought back," I don't think you should so
carelessly repeat that the victims of the 
Holocaust didn't fight back, no matter
how little thay had in the way of weapons. 
The Warsaw ghetto rose up without help
from the neighboring Poles or the Americans
and, somehow, partisans did what they could
to a degree that exceeded efforts of other
"occupied" nations. 

Josh, Ari,
Whatever their motives, however great
their virtuosity, however innocent and 
well-meaning they may be as our fellow 
human beings, they must recognize that
the results of their efforts will likely 
be received as painful intrusions by those
of us who have "organic" connections to it. 

As an American, I feel contrite about the 
atrocities committed in American history 
(l'havdil), and I wouldn't presume to 
intrude in Native American cultural
activities, for example. And, Ari, I don't 
think you should bring up Deir Yassin 
(or even Etzion) in the same breath as 
the Shoah. If all atrocities are equal,
then denying Germans the moral "right" 
to play Klezmer music would be morally 
equivalent to what?

The argument seems to be that playing 
Klezmer music is a basic human right to 
which these (German) human beings are 
just as entitled as any ployni ben ployni. 

I wouldn't deny anyone any human right; 
I simply want their "Klezmer" music "out
of my face." I enjoy the music of German 
musicians when they play music that is not so 
closely tied to this specific Jewish culture
which their nation/society nearly succeeded in
destroying. 

Perhaps such a concert at the site of the
planned Berlin memorial would entice the 
mayor of that city to attend. Perhaps a 
concert at a street naming organized to 
honor Marlene Dietrich or another German 
anti-Nazi artist would be a nice gesture.

I am German born, so I guess I have the 
right to be a Klezmer musician, too.
Leopold Friedman

------Original Message------
From: "Marvin" <physchem (at) earthlink(dot)net>
To: World music from a Jewish slant <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
Sent: February 28, 2000 3:17:28 PM GMT
Subject: Re: Germans and Klezmer


This has been a most significant topic for discussion.  The Torah speaks of
punishing the sins the sons for generations for the sins of the father, but
I see that as the prerogative of G*d to judge that isn't allowed to mankind.

My experience as a soldier in WW II was in the Pacific, and I hold no grudge
against Japanese, even though there has been nothing much in the way of
apologies from Japanese leaders.  I hold a grudge against the Germans of my
generation who claim they had no idea of what was being done to the Jews,
and especially for those who took part in nay way.  I have no grudge in
general against younger generations.

I am aware that my experience as a soldier - who had the means to fight
back - is very different from the experience of the victims of the
Holocaust.  I don't fault any surviver who can't find it in his heart to
forgive the children of their oppressors.



---------------------- jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org ---------------------+