Banning Lipa
I know, I know--every other frum blogger is writing about the ban and all. (I am not claiming to know much about Lipa, the Kol Koreh and the process. )
Despite that, here's my take:
The Rabbanim who signed the Kol Koreh may not have known exactly what they were signing. Some people might have ulterior motives... Assuming the Rabbanim knew what they signed..
Trust me, I'm no Lipa fan, but why make an example of him?
Whose decision was it to cancel the concert? Despite the ban, I'm sure those who were interested would have gone anyway. This reminds me of my post "aimed at no one." Whom are they targeting here? Who will listen? Who will take them seriously? Practically no one.
The ban seems random, too.
A commenter on Vos Iz Naies suggested a kol koreh against people who are dishonest in business. Well, if only people listened to these darn things.
There are many more serious moral and religious issues plaguing the community than a separate seating all-male performing concert.
If they were worried about "ta'aruvos," they accomplished nothing. The guys and girls will meet elsewhere.
If they were worried about him adapting goyishe tunes, they'd better go after everyone else as well. Even the song "Yidden" that's played at Weddings and Bar Mitzvahs (or was that only in the 1990s?) rooted from non-Jewish Germans.
If they were worried about "Laytzanus," (Lightheadedness--[is that a word?]), one must ask where one draws the line between fun and lightheadedness. I'd consider The Chevra, who desecrated Kadeish in their song, more Laytzanus than Lipa singing about...well, whatever it is he sings about.
Fellow blogger
Isaac Kaplan also discussed this and compared the situation to Imus. At first I thought he was crazy. The more I thought about it, the more I agreed.
I'm not saying I'm for or against Lipa.
I am against bans. They're pointless.
Sheitel Shmeitel
I must preface by saying I appreciate this woman thinking of me, and I am glad she called. Like they say, "one man's trash is another man's treasure." (or something like that)
A woman who has a daughter "of age" called my mother recently.
"I might have someone for your daughter, but I have one question before anything," she warned. She talks loud. I heard this through the phone. I worried and wondered what she could have in store.
I held my breath as my mother asked, "Sure, what is it?"
"Would your daughter be willing to date a boy whose mother doesn't cover her hair?"
"Of course. No problem," my mother replied without hesitation. I breathed a sigh of relief, and rolled my eyes.
"Oh, because my daughter isn't willing to date anyone whose mother doesn't cover her hair," she replied matter-of-factly. (I guess that explains why she's willing to pass the guy on to someone else)
My question is, WHY NOT?!
I understand the significance of head-covering. I do. That's why I plan to do so when I get married IY"H, but to reject a guy on that basis, to me, seems narrow-minded, and possibly a little foolish.
Many guys from MO communities where it is more common
not to cover one's hair than it is
to cover one's hair end up more sincerely frum than the ones born to yentas in Flatbush who wear sheitels that look better than their real hair (a pet peeve of mine, of course).
Obviously, this is a more important concern than tablecloths and shabbos robes. I wouldn't ask whether the mother covers her hair when a shidduch comes up, because that's not important to me.
What's important to me is that her son respects me for covering my hair, and respects his mother even if she doesn't.
Emulating Gedolim
Most of my education revolved around "emulating gedolim."
In fact, many young Yeshiva Bochurim say that they "oy" rather than "oh" because the "Gedoilim do it."
Why do you wear your Tzitzis out? Why do you have peyos behind your ears? Why do you only wear white shirts?
Many kids would say, "because the Gedoilim do it." Obviously, the Gedolim have a reason for what they do, and in Yeshiva, they probably tell that to the kids. (Although I can't think of a reason for "oying.")
As a woman, we're told the Gadol stories, and the ones about their wives.
Among the stories of these Gedolim, there are often stories of their Hakaras HaTov to the chef; how they'd go out of their way to do something nice for someone else; how they wouldn't be a chossid shoteh, and help someone even if the circumstances might sound iffy...
Where did that get lost in the "chinuch"? When was the last time you saw any of these kids thank a chef? A waiter? Anyone?
I've seen it once or twice.
But have any of them gone into the kitchen, or near the kitchen, without looking like they're "trying to emulate a gadol" to say thank you?
Very few.
I'd say, "A gadol wouldn't double-park, wouldn't call a Hispanic worker 'amigo,' "...and that whole rant, but the people who really try to emulate Gedolim, I think, don't do that. I hope anyway.
If you want to emulate the gedolim, isn't it more meaningful to
thank people than to say "oy"?
Super Tuesday
I don't know why many of my friends haven't even bothered to register to vote.
For those who have, and the primary is in your state tomorrow, PLEASE PLEASE VOTE!!!
I am annoyed that people don't vote. This is our country, people!
More to come on another topic....soon IYH
