Re: Fw: Kol Isha

[TROMBAEDU <TROMBAEDU...>]

In a message dated 2/17/01 1:30:17 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
shirona (at) bellatlantic(dot)net writes:


> Reflections on a controversial issue that effects many who are involved in 
> Jewish Music.
>  
> 

Shirona, 
Quite frankly, there is nothing about your letter that suggests any 
reflection. 
Kol Isha is a complex Halachic topic, and as it dates back at least to the 
time of the Talmud, it deserves serious consideration, not automatic 
dismissal based on our 21st century attitudes towards rights and 
entitlements. Whether it fits into our current mores or not, the prohibitions 
regarding Kol Isha are the product of the Halacha system. If a person chooses 
not to observe halacha, he or she is certainly entitled, but for those of us 
who do observe Halacha, a hasty rejection of the validity of a Halachic 
principle is no less offensive than the principle itself is to you. People 
who believe Torah and Halacha are inherently holy do not automatically assume 
that current ethical and moral principles are preeminent to the point of 
rejection of our tradition. For those who are less engaged with Western 
culture, that may take the form of outright rejection of current opinions on 
the matter, and thus, not even call into question the centrality of Kol Isha 
to an understanding of the place of women. While that may be odd or ludicrous 
to you, it is part of these people's deeply held religious beliefs. These are 
not unintelligent, spiteful, or misogynistic people. They just judge 
differently how to treat people with respect and sensitivity. 
For those of us who observe Halacha, but are engaged with the Western world, 
these questions do carry with them more complex and nuanced understandings. 
I cannot discuss this with you more onlist without discussing my personal 
practice, which at this time I prefer not to do, but feel free to contact me 
offlist and I will be glad to discuss this issue as fully as I can. 
As far as the idea of Kol Isha Ervah goes, I will just add two points. One is 
that even within the Halachic community, there is a wide variety of opinion 
on the subject.
Two, perhaps instead of looking for reasons to be insulted by the Orthodox, 
perhaps one might consider that in their own way, they are concerned with the 
problem of the objectification of women, as much as the most ardent feminist 
is.

Jordan Hirsch