Dark Light Gives Classical Music a B-
You gotta give Ohr Somayach credit. Even when they try to sound moderate and reasonable, they still display their quiescent fundamentalist position.
In this week’s “Ask!” column, Rabbi Ullman tackles the question, “Is Classical Music in Harmony with Judaism?”
His answer? Yes…but
Accordingly, while it would be generally preferable to listen to refined, uplifting Jewish music, listening to most types of classical music is also okay.
In fact, there is precious little “uplifting” Jewish (which for them, means frum anyway) music that actually rivals the best classical music, but there is plenty of crap that comes nowhere near even the better popular music. And don’t bring Andy Statman and Peter Himmelman. No one wants to listen to those two guys all day every day.
The point is, if Ohr Somayach is conceding that listening to classical music is allowed by Jewish law, what exactly are they basing their claim that it’s “preferable” to listen to “uplifting” Jewish music? What makes it better? What makes it Jewish? I’m talking the notes, not the lyrics.
Why doesn’t Ohr Somayach just admit that when it comes to music, frum cultural options are about as satisfying to a BT as a pareve pizza with tofu pepperoni compared to the real thing? But this isn’t food — it’s music, and fortunately, there is no reason to refrain from listening to it. For Jews from artistically educated secular backgrounds, the haredi options simply don’t cut it, and are frequently unbearable. Seriously, frum music is just the pits compared to the best secular music. They could break terrorists with some of their haredi boy bands. Especially the well-sandaled terrorists from educated backgrounds. No culturally educated person could stand up to a sustained aural punishment of that sort without cracking.
Cross-posted on Kefirah
8 comments
Fantastic… Thanks for bringing this kind of stuff to light
I don’t see why you young people are complaining about the lack of good frum music. I mean, don’t you have that Matis-whosit? He plays the kind of music the kids enjoy, even if it does sound a little threateningly like schvartze music, and he’s an ehrlicher yid. Why do you need all this schvartze and goyishe trash? What did the Beatles and Rolling Stones ever do for Yiddishkeit?
Michael, are you a Lubavitcher? Or did you just absorb their racist teachings while rejecting the actual identity label?
Sholom,
Michael didn’t mean it from a Lubavitch perspective, and he’s just satirizing.
I’m a black hat frum boy who hates everything you stand for but God do I hate that music. When you’re right, you’re right, Kvetcher.
Dear Dave,
Dad and I are certainly glad all those music lessons have paid off.
By the way, in some circles classical music is considered a “spiritual experience.” Uh-oh! Such blasphemy!
Dave’s Mom
while i disagree that there is an absence of “uplifting jewish music” i personally connect with carlebachish modern israeli folk rockers… like sinai tur, yosef karduner, aaron razel… local new york stuff like pharoh’s daughter, sway machinery, and the occasional moshav band crush fest… ahem…. i think it’s just gross that i would be expected to give up everything else… i should feel guilty listening to tears for fears???! no way moshe. it’s such a sales pitch….
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