Re: Messianic music should not be classified as Jewish

[Lori Cahan-Simon <l_cahan...>]

I know that a number of people on this list have our products at CD 
Baby, myself amongst them.  I forwarded the previous letter to my 
contact person there.  I will let you know what his response is.

Lorele

Judy Ginsburgh wrote:

>Judy,
>
>I fully agree with you that this type of music does not belong in the Jewish
>category.  You will find the same thing with books at Amazon.  There are a
>number of titles written by Messianic Jews or written from a Messianic
>perspective listed under the category Jewish.
>
>Just so you know how Amazon and most of these other internet shops
>work---with Amazon, you (the author/producer) decide what category to place
>your products under.  It is not a decision of Amazon.  So Mr. McConnell
>obviously decided to place his recordings under this Jewish category.
>Amazon does not check into any of this - we are at liberty to select
>whatever categories we choose.  So, writing to Amazon will probably prove
>fruitless.  But you are doing a good thing by pointing out the difference.
>
>Judy :)
>
>Judy Caplan Ginsburgh, Professional Singer
>1999 Louisiana Professional Artist of the Year!
>judy (at) jewishentertainment(dot)net
>www.jewishentertainment.net/judy
>Director: Jewish Entertainment Resources - We Help You Find Jewish Talent!
>www.jewishentertainment.net
>Conference Chair, CAJE 23: www.caje.org
>"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on
>both hands. You need to be able to throw something back."
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Judy Pinnolis" <pinnolis (at) brandeis(dot)edu>
>To: "World music from a Jewish slant" <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>
>Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2002 2:45 PM
>Subject: Messianic music should not be classified as Jewish
>
>
>>Friends:
>>CD Baby is classifying "messianic" music as Jewish, which I firmly
>>
>disagree
>
>>with.
>>
>>I think people ought to be aware that there are three albums that are by
>>Steve McConnell in their list of "Judaica", which are intended to convert
>>people away from Judaism, by appearing to be about 'Jewish music'-- but
>>
>it's
>
>>really about worshipping Jesus, which is a form of Christianity.
>>
>>Whether or not the album cover has great graphics that 'look Jewish', and
>>whether or not messianic music uses Hebrew, it is not functionally Jewish
>>music, but music of a new American-flavored Christian sect, that uses the
>>word "Jews" in its title. Since it's a free country, they can merchandise
>>however they want. But that doesn't mean that this type of deceiving
>>practice should go unnoted. I have found that even some Jewish book stores
>>have been fooled from time to time. Mr. McConnell, is at least upfront,
>>
>and
>
>>says clearly on his website that he is a "messianic Jew". Other websites
>>
>of
>
>>this group are not even that honest.
>>
>>There are also other merchandiszing organizations that are starting to
>>include this type of thing with the "Jewish" sections, which is
>>unfortunately giving people who are less informed the impression that they
>>are getting authentic Jewish music. Do not be fooled. Many people will not
>>understand that they are singing music that is praising and worshipping
>>Jesus as the true Messiah-- clearly a distinctly Christian, and not a
>>Jewish, precept.
>>
>>In the lyrics of this type of music they blend famous Jewish phrases that
>>any general Jew might recognize, such as the words of the Sh'ma, or the
>>Hebrew word "Shabbat",...  and then follow those by the texts about Jesus
>>being the Messiah and so forth. It's this interweaving in and out of
>>
>Jewish
>
>>and Christian themes and sounds that is supposed to lull Jews into feeling
>>comfortable, mixing the two ideas. Mr. McConnell has gone so far as to
>>
>place
>
>>a "copyright" on words and texts, in that certain lines come from Jewish
>>prayerbooks, claiming these texts were written by him as original words,
>>which they are not. He then interweaves these phrases with his
>>
>proselytizing
>
>>texts.
>>
>>Judy
>>
>>
>
>
>

-- 
You can now hear Lori's new CD, Songs My Bubbe Should Have Taught Me; Vol.1: 
Passover, at: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lcahan Only $15 & postage. Email me for 
more info.