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<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=270350123-20032003>Well, Jim, I
wouldn't be too quick to compare Judaism with the Islam of Hussein, Arafat, Bin
Laden and their ilk. The more I learn about Judaism, the more I find there
usually is some method to the (sometimes apparent) madness.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=270350123-20032003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=270350123-20032003>I myself am not
sure whether the prohibition of listening to music during the year following the
loss of a loved one is a law or a custom. The difference is that customs are not
mandatory, although some have almost the force of laws because they are so
widely practiced, like wearing a yarmulke. As a professional musician in Israel,
I should really know more about this. The ins and outs are really interesting,
but perhaps not within the scope of DJML topics of discussion. I'm trying to
stick with comments that might relate to anyone who performs with or for
religious Jews, and I think that's fair game for the list.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=270350123-20032003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=270350123-20032003>For example, a
friend of mine married an Israeli girl, and her mother died quite unexpectedly
from pneumonia 2 weeks before the wedding. Because making joy for the bride and
groom is a commandment, and therefore an obligation, while the mourning over the
loss of an immediate family member is also obligatory, the rabbi permitted
music at the reception, but not dancing. The music was toned down, not morbid
but less upbeat than usual. The klezmer trio they hired set an excellent tone.
It was a heart-wrenching affair. The bride and her father cried through most of
the ceremony. We all wanted to be there for the family. They could have
postponed the wedding (an impractical option, and as they say, not what the
mother would have wanted), or treated it as though nothing had happened and do a
full bore celebration (rather impossible for people with hearts and souls), or
treated the wedding as an extension of the funeral and had no music or
dancing or celebration, also not a good option. I thought the way it was done
was a reasonable solution.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=270350123-20032003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=270350123-20032003>I have no
argument with you about the healing power of music. I can tell you that Judaism
associates music with joy. It also recognizes that there is music for the
purpose of lamenting. I'm not sure if lamenting music is any more permissible
than joyful music during mourning periods. The religious issue is over the
inappropriate mixing of joy and sorrow. I would like to know more about this,
both religiously and musically. I believe the rabbis would say that their
concern is that one process his grief and not bury it. They don't arrest you for
this, or cut your ears off, or anything like that. It's not an easy
call. I sometimes have to decide what is appropriate to play downtown after a
terror attack. People respond to these things differently. Helping people to
deal with death is one of the things religions do, or are supposed to
do.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=270350123-20032003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=270350123-20032003>On the lighter
side, as I wrote off-list to one listmate, we have certain times during the year
when it is a custom, but not a law, not to listen to music, because they are
considered mourning times. When I perform during these times, I tell my audience
that my rabbi says I'm allowed to play because it is part of my livelihood, but
they are not allowed to listen. Or alternatively, they are allowed to listen,
but they are not permitted to enjoy it. It usually gets a good
laugh.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=270350123-20032003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=270350123-20032003>Anyway, I think
if the war effort succeeds in taking out Saddam or Osama, the rabbis might agree
to temporarily suspend the prohibition against dancing at funerals. Meanwhile,
playing jazz in their faces is the best offence I can think of. I will try to
get a picture of my band playing with gas masks on. If I succeed, I'll post it
on my web site and let you know when it's there.</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=270350123-20032003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN class=270350123-20032003>May we have many
reasons to celebrate and not many to mourn,</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=270350123-20032003></SPAN></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=270350123-20032003>Elazar</SPAN></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=270350123-20032003></SPAN></FONT><FONT color=#0000ff size=2><SPAN
class=270350123-20032003><FONT size=2>Misrad HaJazz<BR>Doctor Jazz
Band</FONT><FONT size=2><BR>Jerusalem,
Israel<BR><www.israel.net/ministry-of-jazz><BR>Tel: +972-2-679-2537</FONT>
</DIV></SPAN></FONT>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid">
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> JimDBB@aol.com
[mailto:JimDBB@aol.com]<BR><B>Sent:</B> Thursday, 20 March, 2003
05:13<BR><B>To:</B> dixielandjazz@ml.islandnet.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re:
[Dixielandjazz] Music and Mourning<BR><BR></FONT></DIV><FONT
face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" face=Arial
color=#000000 size=3 FAMILY="SANSSERIF"> *the adults can't listen
to music for the first year of mourning? that is really bizarre.
there is great healing power in music and to be denied that is cruel and
insane. Truly, religious insanity is responsible for most of the trouble
in this world. <BR><BR> good luck, El.<BR><BR> Jim
Beebe</FONT> </FONT></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>