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Ask JTF for Sunday December 27, 2009

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Gimatria:
Dear Chaim,
a couple of weeks ago you took a very strong stance against Jews listening to Christmas carols. While I agree in some way, I wonder what you think of the following:
I get hired very often to play piano gigs - some of these events would be "Christmas parties" and the like, where I'd get $200 or $300 to play carols for an hour, or 90 minutes. To me, the carols are just notes on a page that I sight-read out of a book. I don't see the harm in that. People might call them "the First Noel", or "Jingle Bells", but I think of them as "F major, 3/4 time", or "G major, 4/4 time". While my friends would be out working jobs for 8 or 10 bucks an hour, I would get paid 10 times that for doing something that required almost 0 effort.
if, Baruch Ha-Shem, I have a talent such as being able to easily sight read piano music, should I turn down very lucrative gigs because they involve playing Christmas music? Again, to me the songs are just notes on a page, in a given key, with a given meter, and a given melodic/harmonic profile. I don't care for the lyrics or the message. Is this bad?
Toda Raba Chaim!
Gimatria

Trace:
Shalom Chaim,

You might like the classic rock band Rush - they rock really hard but they never sing about drugs or any other bad influences. Ted Nugent is also pretty good, and he's a conservative guy who loves guns and speaks out against Barack Obama and Shmuck Schumer. Not all hard rock is about drugs or Satanism. Also, for older rock, the Beach Boys are really excellent. They never advocated negative behavior and all of their music is wholesome and cheerful. Also, you might not like the band KISS, but Gene Simmons did recently say that Islam was a "vile culture," and he was also one of the only people in the music world who spoke out against Michael Jackson.

Chai:
Shalom Bother Chaim,

I Feel religious Jews have a few obstacles keeping them from truly being united.

One example is  Jews that still wear black fedoras. Do you feel it does more harm then good? ( They think its to look more Jewish, but its something even

gentiles wore not 30  years ago).


The reason I believe it does more harm is like this;  fashion is always is changing, it is very likely it will come back into fashion and for this reason this black hat

is only an excuse to me when I hear black hat Jews exclaim they wear it only to look more Jewish. All this behavior does is make unnecessary  cliques in the

Jewish community.  I know many Jews that do not interact with other non black hatter Jews, even if they are orthodox in the way they do with their own

cliques . I see it all the time, and if they do, they are condescending,(such as asking if  help is needed with a siddur) 

Such behavior is of course not appreciated. Of course I am not saying all people that wear black hats behave in such a manner, I am only stating something

that gives reason for people to act like this. I also have friends that wont come to my house on pesach to eat , because i eat rice ..is this what G-d wanted? I

don't think so. I would very much like you to debate how this is healthy.

The slight minhagim ( very light variations on the traditions and customs brought forth) make the religion more colorful and special. however , I strongly believe

wearing articles of clothing or other unnecessary things that have no bearing on minhagim only separate us.  

Again, I have no feelings of malice towards Jews with black hats .. I love my brothers .. it only scares me when I see such unnecessary things  make it easier

to separate other religious Jew . I feel only when we are united can Moshiach come


Please tell me you opinion on this , no holds bars Chaim style!.. If you think I am wrong  (which i hope I am..give it to me).


PS, If you have time, give us an affirmative action story to cool my blood (lol)

Thanks so much.
M

SW:
Dear Chaim,

what do you think about the latest terror attack where a Jewish father died?

Why aren't the settlers allowed to fight back?

Jerusalem is Israeli Jewish land. Why is there still the Al Aqsa mosque? Why doesn't the Israeli government destroy or nuke this evil mosque?

Steven

eb22:
Shalom Chaim,


I recall you mentioning that in U.S. Prisons,   Blacks are basically forced to convert to Islam.

Based on this,   my questions are as follows:

1)   In your estimation,   what % of Blacks in the U.S., who convert to Islam while in Prison,  remain Muslims after they leave prison?

2)   About how many Black Muslims do you believe are currently in the United States?

3)   What is the relationship between Black Muslims and other Blacks in the U.S.?     The type of non Muslim Blacks who voted for Barack Hussein Obama.

4)   What is the relationship between Black Muslims in the U.S.  and Arab Muslims in the U.S.  at present and what do you believe will be their relationship in the future?


Thanks as always,  eb22

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