Re: status of musicians

[Joe Kurland <ganeydn...>]

I was visiting a Lubavitch Yeshiva one day with my family when the 
elder Rabbi, with whom I am a little bit aquainted, called me over to 
tell me a story:

He said the Talmud tells of two rabbis who were traveling in an 
unfamiliar town when they saw a man whom they could clearly see shone 
with the light of G-d.  They approached the man and asked what he 
did, and he answered that he was just a musician. Ahh... said the 
rabbis, now we understand why the light of G-d is upon you--it is 
because your work is to bring people joy.

I felt incredibly moved to have been honored with the gift of this 
story by the rabbi.  It brings tears to my eyes even as I sit here 
typing it.

Jewish tradition speaks a lot about the commandment to rejoice 
(v'samakhto b'khagekho--and you shall rejoice in your holidays; 
m'sameakh khosn v'kale--who causes the groom and bride to rejoice). 
Music is considered a sacred undertaking, even though musicians may 
not always be treated with respect or paid enough to support 
themselves.


Zayt gezunt (be healthy),

Yosl (Joe) Kurland
The Wholesale Klezmer Band
Colrain, MA 01340
voice/fax: 413-624-3204
http://www.crocker.com/~ganeydn


At 11:30 AM -0700 3/22/2000, Helen Winkler wrote:
>...quotes many Rabbinical sources and they all seem to say that it's 
>o.k. for poor people to work as musicians but for rich people and 
>those studying Torah, being a musician is lowering yourself.  I am 
>not sure exactly of the dates of the Rabbinical sources being quoted 
>but below is an example:



>"The responsa asked, someone who is learned and knows how to play a 
>number of musical instruments asked if he had permission to play a 
>violin before a bride and bridegroom [that?s a huge mitzvah], both 
>leading to the chupah and at the festive meal.  The wedding meal is 
>described as being a ?sudah mitzvah? a festive meal, that is 
>commanded.  It is something that we are supposed to do at a wedding. 
>The answer was given:  It is a bit like lowering oneself according 
>to the order of the custom of the people."
>
>We're translating in bits and pieces and I am looking forward to 
>finding out what is in the other chapters.
>Helen
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