jTunes

Well I am sort of surprised that I am bringing myself to blog about this topic; because I feel that there are some things about my persona that should be considered "off-limits" in respect to my desire to become a Jew. But then again that notion hearkens back to my Reform Judaism days...where you could pick and choose how you wish to apply Judaism. New rules apply now!

So the topic is music. I usually read something regarding Jewish music, get a little irritated, then move on. But that cycle has occurred way too often lately; like at least once per day. There is this article about the rapper Y-Love who is a real treasure to Am Yisrael (and I'm not talking only about his music). Then there is this lovely piece of work; which echos much of the same nonsense that follows:



Come on now...really???

But this is not just about me scoffing at such antics. Because, #1, I can fully appreciate the effect that music has over people. From being at hardcore shows where standing near the stage puts you at risk for a broken nose; to seeing women lose all of their dignity (and then some) during dancehall reggae parties. Music is powerful; and powerful things need to come with a warning label. And #2, I do respect (yes I do) the wisdom and foresight of those who are scholars and lovers of Torah; then they take that wisdom and guide Jews on how they should observe the Torah in today's world. Nevertheless, the aforementioned just does not sit well with me.

My music collection has a long way to go Jewish-wise. Even then, I enjoy ethnic Israeli (Sephardi?) music a tad more than the Miami Boys Choir or Avraham Fried. I like Matisyahu, Y-Love, and Blue Fringe more than all of them however. But that is not what I listen to everyday. I am usually listening to a Trojan Records album; or any random soul singer; maybe some old school R&B from the 70s, 80s or 90s. I also like new indie acts; like Metric, the White Stripes and Santogold.

So hmmm.....does is this place me at odds with the desire to become a Torah observant Jew?

I think it is a valid question; and I look at just one genre and how my spirituality has altered what I listen to and how I listen to it; and that genre is reggae. Reggae is actually pretty diverse; and there is a lot of it that is not fueled by Rastafarian dogma. In fact that is one reason why I do not listen to a lot of Bob Marley's music anymore. I mean Redemption Song and Exodus even Three Little Birds will always be classics in my book. But Rastaman Chant and Kaya...I think I will pass. But even "Rastafarian" music has themes that copy over to Judaism no problem; like Rivers of Babylon by the Melodians...which is an absolutely beautiful song and appears on Trojan's Rastafari Box Set (sung there by the Ronnie Davis however)...

By the rivers of Babylon
Where we sat down
There we wept
When we remembered Zion...

For the wicked
Carried us away...captivity
Requiring from us a song
How can we sing a song of joy in a
strange land?

So let the
Words of our mouths
and the meditations of our hearts
be acceptable in Thy sight
here tonight

Now this just one of...oh...maybe hundreds of reggae songs that are out there (yep, it is hundreds because Jamaica produces more recordings per capita than any other country) that meet these standards. But let me step out on another limb...and rant a bit about music that can't serve as psuedo-kosher music.

Like Al Green; I think that Al Green has somehow miraculously taken his soul and transformed a bit of it into sound waves. Somehow, I feel that he would, without a doubt, be thrown over into the "treif" music pile. So why is it I don't feel bad while listening to him? Sure, he sings about love, and feeling sad, and all sorts of other things that I can sympathize with. I have enough sense to realize (and I must say this...because some people don't) that Al Green is not singing about or to me. Which sort of brings up the notion of "kol isha"; which is the prohibition where Jewish men should not hear a woman who is not related to them sing. Actually, I do not have any issue with this...because the anti-feminist in me believes that most male minds work differently than most female minds do. And just like shomer negia (which applies to both sexes), it serves as a tangible reminder that being a Torah observant Jew means adhearing to a higher level of kedusha. With that being said, I respect and understand kol isha; but I am not going to think a Jewish man is a rusha because he listens to Barbara Streisand. Back to Al Green though...he is not a Jew (not that I know of) so there is no true shame that he does not conduct himself in accordance to the teachings of the Torah. He is talented; and I am very thankful that he is able to share his talents with the world.

And as far as those who feel Al Green and the like are sinful, shameful, and the pinnacle of complete talentless debauchary? Hmmm. Well I believe that your taste in music is similar to your taste in food. It may modify itself over time; but large and by far, you sort of grow into it. I mean some gerim and baalei teshuva may really dig Lipa Schmeltzer and The Chevra; and that's cool. I personally think they are pretty talented; but I don't they don't fit me like an old pair of bedroom slippers do. Which is why I am much happier with Matisyahu and Y-Love. But more than that, music is just sound and lyrics are just words and whatever does not sit right with me, I can't (and won't) sit there and be subjected to. That is why I don't listen to reggae that sings about puffing on gangja spliffs; or pop songs that are invitations to give anatomy lessons; or rap music that is about...u-hem...."lollipops"; or punk music that is about assasinating the president; or any type of music that encourages you to do some hokey dance (which would be The Macarena, or The Electric Slide or The Tootsie Roll or The Hokey Pokey...or any other of the plethora of songs, which, if they were never recorded, would have left the world a little better place).

My desire is for my yiras h'shmayim to be stronger than anything; including any bad influences from music. But then again, I am of the Jewish camp which does not equate things that are a product of goyim = bad. I fully admit, I still listen to some music that would really scare a lot of Jewish people. The list (slowly) gets smaller as time goes on; or maybe it's because I'm getting older as well. But it is sad to see Torah observant Judaism being used as justification to promote insularity and predjudice attitudes. Somehow, this just does not seem to do anything to combat the assimilation problem.

Hopefully, this will be my only post about this issue. I hope Moshiach will come soon and we can enjoy music of pure simcha to celebrate the rebuilding of the Beis HaMikdash.