Re: kol isha in action

[Jordan Hirsch <trombaedu...>]

on 2/20/03 9:31 PM, Sylvie Braitman at curlySylvie (at) hotmail(dot)com wrote:

Voice is a sensual thing. It's organic to the body and as such "speaks"
about the body. This is why we feel so moved and deeply touched (we love it,
we hate it), because of its organic nature.
It does not matter whether it's a male or female voice, there is always
something very physical about a voice.
Now, in a patriarchal system, a woman's voice is danger, because right
beneath her voice is her body and her sexuality. And the poor men should not
be exposed to that!
We women can listen to a man's voice and have all sort of intimate feelings
about it....we won't complain. Men who are already overwhelmed by their
sexuality and don't always deal very well with that, don't want more
stimulation.
In brief, a woman's voice is TOO beautiful to take.
And feminine beauty, in this

I really wish all those who have not been through the Kol Isha wars on this
list would check the old postings if they are available and consult them.
Quite frankly, I think that Lori should find a feminist support group to
vent her feelings. Not because they are illegitimate. Not because I  follow
the restrictions of Kol Isha(which I do not) . Simply because a discussion
of a principle of Halacha, even one with admittedly various interpretations,
is fruitless in an environment where actual knowledge or lack thereof of
halacha does not give anyone pause to make the most uninformed, anti
orthodox, offensive statements about a practice which is in the Shulchan
Aruch, which is for all the branches of Jewish practice at least the
starting off point for discussions of Halacha. You want to talk about how
Orthodoxy is repressive? Be my guest. As an Orthodox practitioner, I can
assure you you are correct. Just don't do it on a list about Jewish Music.
Because I did not come here to be subject to the kind of reflexive anti
Orthodox, or Anti Halacha diatribes which are common every time this comes
up. You want to change the practice? Tell people not to follow that halacha.
Just don't do it here. And as I have said every time this comes up, if you
are going to discuss this, look at the original source material and at least
understand why it is the way it is.  And to tell the truth, Lori, if this
happens to you so often, maybe you need to put safeguards in place so that
you don't get hurt in this way.  Don't assume you don't have to be upfront
about who is in your group, or what it is you do, because anyone who follows
Kol Isha is wrong. Accept that this is halacha, at least for some people,
and as such has a degree of sanctity. If you can't do that, stop working for
Jews.

Jordan Hirsch