Conference taveng::bagels

I thought playing music is not allowed on Shabbat.  Am I wrong?

.1>	I thought playing music is not allowed on Shabbat.  Am I wrong?

I know nothing at all about this particular concert, but ...
    1)	The cantor is a woman, which just about guarantees that this is not an
	Orthodox congregation.  Many non-Orthodox congregations do not observe
	the prohibition against playing musical instruments.
    2)	No instrumentalists are listed, only vocalists, so it's possible that
	there won't be any instruments played.  There is no prohibition against
	a capella music as such.  (Also note the title of this topic.)

I believe the prohibition is primarily against _carrying_ musical instruments
(or anything else for that matter) beyond the permitted boundaries on Shabbat.
I also believe there is a rabbinic prohibition against _playing_ musical
instruments so that no one would be tempted to violate the restriction on
carrying. It beats me why piano-playing should be prohibited since that
instrument is seldom carried anywhere.

That synagogue is neither Orthodox nor Conservative. However, the only
music advertised is vocal. (Maybe they won't use a pitchpipe either?)

Dave

Wrong.  There is a rabbinical prohibition against playing musical instruments,
including pitchpipes.  Musical instruments were played in the Beit Hamikdash
because rabbinical prohibitions were pushed aside by the Temple service.

    Re: .3
    
    You may be thinking of the prohibition against blowing
    the shofar on Shabbat, which is indeed because of the
    possibility of carrying it.
    
    The reason for the prohibition against playing musical
    instruments is for fear of tuning the instrument. This
    obviates your "piano" question.
    
    Jem
    

    How about if those people for whom the making of music on Shabbat
    offends the sensibilities of their particular style of observing
    Judaism simply not go to the concert, instead of getting into a
    frummer-than-thou pseudo-intellectual discussion of whether its
    prohibited, not prohibited, etc. This distracts from the intent of the
    base note, which is to announce to the local community an event that,
    to the people who are putting it on, will be very meaningful.
    
    Dick

Dick,

If you re-read the replies carefully you will realize that nobody got 
offended.  Nobody cancelled the announcement of the base note either. 
Actually, there is nothing to add to it.  Those who drive on Shabos, will
go to the concert.  Those who don't drive on Shabos will not.  There was 
nothing "frummer-than-thou pseudo-intellectual".

I asked a sincere question.  Many people posted sincere replies.  Thanks to
all who did.  IMO the base note title and the base note subject provide a 
good opportunity for a good discussion. 

Leo

re: .6

It certainly didn't seem to me that there was "frummer-than-thou" attitude in the 
replies, in fact just the opposite.  Sounds like a "chip on the shoulder" to me.

I support discussions on Halachic issues, that's part and parcel of our tradition.
Halacha is part of what deines us as a people apart from the other nations.

What's the matter with the current participants in this notesfile, people both on the
left and right attack each other without listening to what they're saying.  That's one 
reason why I don't participate as much as I used to, besides having much less time
for notes in general.

--David

    re: .8
    
    >>                            -< give me a break... >-
    
    My reaction to .1-.5 exactly.
    
    Dick

Some factual answers to questions raised here (sorry I haven't logged on
for a few days).  I'm not going to get into a "rightness" issue, although
I was interested to see what kind of discussion was generated by my invitation!
I have really missed Bagels in the 6 months I've been out  - I am constantly
amazed by what I read here, and what I learn...

Certainly Beth Elohim is not orthodox.  We are "unaffiliated" and although
I hate the need for labels, I would place our practice on the right side
of Reform (right vs left, not vs wrong!).  

There will be piano accompanyment to some of the songs.  The rest are  
accappela, with a small electronic piano giving the initial pitches.
Because we also have members who have some of the same sensibilities as
some of the repliers to this note, this is the only time of the year we
use the piano in a service.

The singers are the regular choir of the synagogue with the addition of a
guest cantor (we usually have no cantor; the rabbi sings the required solos).
There are 12 of us.

The word "concert" may be misleading.  It is a regular Fri eve Shabbat service
with the opportunity to sing new melodies/arrangements to regular liturgical
pieces.  Maybe the addition of the soloist and piano make it seem more like
a concert to us; we only do this once a year.

I hope some of you will want to come; it's usually quite a nice evening.  If
you do come, come up and introduce yourself - I'm the short alto who sits
in the front row over the tape recorder!

Waky

    re: .9
    
    A crass reply.
    
    --David

I don't want to get into a lot of tsimis like last year, but I wanted you to
know that we are having another Shabbat Shirah concert at Beth Elohim this year
for anyone who is interested.


		Sabbath of Song 

Join us for a special music-filled Shabbat evening service featuring Cantor
Stephen Thompson of Temple Beth El in Lowell and the Congregation Beth Elohim
Choir.

	Friday, Jan 22, 8:00 p.m. at the synagogue


10 Hennessey Drive
Acton, Ma

If you need directions, call Waky - DTN 223-8872 or write ICS::Waky

Another year...

Congregation Beth Elohim is once again having our annual Shabbat Shirah evening.

	Celebrate the Beauty of Jewish Music with the Cong Beth Elohim choir
	
			Friday, 29 April, 1994
				8:00 p.m.

		Ruth Ross, Guest Cantorial Soloist


As described before, this is a regular Friday evening service with special 
musical selections, featuring our own choir and a special soloist, with SOME
piano, flute and guitar accompaniment.  Quite a few numbers by Ben Steinberg
this year.  We've sung with Ruth before and she is really someone special to
hear.  Join us -


10 Hennessey Drive
Acton, Ma

If you need directions, call Waky - DTN 223-8872 or write ICS::Waky