Re: Kol Isha becomes a reality

[TROMBAEDU <TROMBAEDU...>]

In a message dated 3/27/01 10:15:57 AM Eastern Standard Time, Elkahn (at) 
JTSA(dot)EDU 
writes:


> Jordan, while I always have the profoundest respect for your halachic 
> beliefs, I don't believe your argument here holds much water. Yes, a gig 
> got canceled--solely on the basis of a person's gender. No, you are not 
> sympathetic to this woman's loss of income, otherwise you would protest 
> against said discrimination.
Who said I would not protest her not getting paid? And who ever said I myself 
would not listen to a woman sing. All I am saying is that this list sometimes 
exists more in the ivory tower than in the real world of booking gigs. One of 
the things that happens when gigs are being booked is that people are 
inconsiderate of artists, and family members act like jerks. The issue here 
is not Halacha, but stupidity on the part of a couple of lay people planning 
a party. If Kol Isha was an issue, they should never have contacted Shirona.  
 And, no, the customers neither think it an "important and respectable issue" 
nor 
> "just as wrong ... for a guest not to attend over the issue," but, rather, 
> were blackmailed by one person--the brother-in-law--at an inconvenience to 
> a large majority of the people--if Shirona's report is accurate.

And it surprises you that there is yet one more family that has a screwed up 
way of operating. I guess I am jaded by dealing with all sorts of weirdoes 
over the years.

> 
> The reasons for "Kol Isha" might have had a purpose in an earlier time when 
> women weren't dependent on their own livelihoods. For better or worse, this 
> is the reality of the present day.  While I respect your adherence to a 
> religious law while it is still binding, I hope you'll agree that those of 
> us who find it reprehensible should agitate as much as we can to get it 
> changed. And I'm sure--with enough pressure--it will be changed within the 
> next few years.

The reasons for Kol Isha are limited but always valid. The application, or 
misapplication, of Halacha is more problematic, as I think you and I would 
agree. It does not need to be changed so much as applied appropriately. I 
certainly think that Kol Isha should not be an issue that one family member 
should hold over others, but see my remark above. 

> 
> I do hope Shirona takes these people to small claims court. If they had any 
> sense of justice or fairness--or courage--, they would have asked the 
> aggrieved brother-in-law to stay home.

Or leave the room when she sang. I agree that Shirona should take these 
people to small claims court, but I also think Shirona needs to take steps 
now in the running of her business that will protect her in the future  from 
all sorts of client capriciousness. The musicians Union is a good place to 
start, as they have all kinds of good advice for contracts for freelance 
gigs. 

Jordan Hirsch