A Jew's view from the capital of Israel and the future site of the Third Temple, may it speedily be rebuilt.
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Thursday, December 08, 2005
Matisyahu Live And Kiddush Hashem
I've been debating with myself if I should shell out the 130 shekels and go see Matisyahu at the Ma'abada. I really do like his music, but I decided that it would not be appropriate for someone like myself to go to the performance. I fear that the atmosphere at the concert will not be entirely "frum". It is not the kind of example that I want to set for my children. Matisyahu is a great Kiddush Hashem, and I'm sure that many have become interested in Yiddishkeit through his music. However, I think that it would probably be a Chillul Hashem for me to show up at such an event. I'll continue to enjoy his music from my mp3 player.
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8 comments:
I fully understand how you feel and what you are going through. It's always a question of whether you belong in a certain place or not, regardless of who is performing. Then again, if everyone did as you are doing (abstaining from going), then Matisyahu wouldn't have an audience. I believe that it is important to support those encouraging people to move closer to yiddishkeit.
Just because a Jew goes into a club doesn't mean he has to act like the goyim.
I understand your position and your internal conflict.
I have been having the same issue. I bought tickets for me and my wife, but have a strong feeling that it is inappropriate to go. Maybe if it was in the US it would not feel like such a conflict, but here it does..
It's music for goodness sakes, not a orgy.
I remember 2 articles from the Baltimore Jewish Times.
One was from the one time editor who wrote that he would not wear his Yarmulke at work but would wear it to a rock concert. He was concerned (IIRC) that at work people would think he was judging others but at concerts it was good to show that Orthodox Jews have other interests.
The other article was by a Conservative Rabbi who wrote of getting together a minyan at a Grateful Dead concert.
I know that it doesn't totally relate to your concerns. But it's similar. Finally, Bob Dylan's son-in-law, Peter Himmelman apparently arranges minyanim at his concerts.
Cosmic has made the right choice.
His reasons are very valid even if some have a rather nasty reaction to it. The message you give to your children is important.
I would not go for another reason.
I am not quite fond of the use of reggae music which comes out of the drug culture of the Carribean as a way of praising Hashem.
I find it..disturbing.
Well, I decided to go, despite my misgivings. I was afraid I would feel awkward and out of place, never having gone "clubbing" before.
Anyway, may concerns were fairly misfounded. While I still think it is inappropriate for good religious boys (and their wives) to go clubbing, last night was not so bad. About 85% of the crowd was noticeably religious. that would include a range of boys wearing smal kippa seruga all the way to a couple of black hats (though they were chabad, not litvish) and everything in between. Lots of Yeshiva boys and Sem girls and some older and middle-age couples (the class I almost fall into).
The concert was great! Matisyahu is very energetic and I find him to be a bit of an enigma. I think that might be why he is so popular. That might even be why it was not just teens and 20 somethings but also middle aged and older couples showed up.
Anyway, I am glad I went.
They way things are going these days in Israel, the greatest Chilulei Hashem are perpetrated by the religious. That much is clear. Between corruption and their response to the pullout- I would say Dati Jews, as opposed to Charedim, are in a unique position to start healing the wounds and begin reaching out, at lease culturally, to the rest of the Israeli Jewish population. Just like the Paletinian "Cycle" of violence, one side is certainly more to blame for the hate between the sects of jews in Israel and it is no doubt the Charedi community. This is coming from a YU boy. Get out there and be a kidush Hashem in the less traditional sense. Show the world, or at least the Chilonim- who are still Jews- that you are culturally aware, that you embrace all people, you are concerened with the future of the jewish people and that you love all of them...except for Satmar.
Well, my son is going and later I hope to report on impressions. Maybe he'll meet a nice Jewish girl there.
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