Judaism and J4J

[Fred Blumenthal <xd2fabl...>]

The ListServ dealing with "world music from a Jewish perspective" has
segued into discussions of Jews for Jesus, the cost of congregation
membership and the definition of a Jew.  I belong to a Conservative
congregation now, but I grew up in a Reform congregation, and in that
religious school was taught that a person who defined her/himself as a Jew
was a Jew.  So if Sammy Davis, Jr. said he was Jewish, he was Jewish.
Whether you agree with that or not, you should probably agree that it
simplifies answering the question.  But, then, when applied to music: what
is Jewish music?  As the neo-klezmer movement pushes Jewish music further
into world music - as it pushes world music into Jewish music - and as pop
and (non-Jewish) "folk" music push themselves into Jewish prayer, a
definition becomes more difficult.  I anticipate someone saying "I know
Jewish music when I hear it."

Fred Blumenthal
xd2fabl (at) us(dot)ibm(dot)com

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