kayte
Well-Known Member
As a Christian,and an African American I find myself working
in Jewish synagogues. I moonlight as a music specialist and for whatever reason... I have never figured this out.... the Jewish schools are my main clients.
By clients I mean subcontracted to a number and variety of schools and
demographic...a harlem school... multicultural schools...a WASP school
(where every child in the wealthy student body except the two black kids were blonde)........a celebrity school......... etc
The first Jewish director hired me by word of mouth and then other schools followed suit. I was even contacted by a Jewish director because someone listed my name on craig's list as a good Jewish music teacher and I had to explain I was not Jewish.
I have only two clients now and they are both Jewish schools.
Over the years I have sat down with varying Jewish directors and tried to convince them that they might be better off hiring someone in their traditon and heritage and religion..........
when I take african dance/drumming classes as narrow as this sounds I will only take from Africans!
I'm not sure why God has consistently placed me there..but the directors brush it off. One school did fire me to hire a Jewish person ...he played a klezmer ditty on the guitar as he passed my class to audition
Anyway Jewish curricula is part of my job
Since the teachings I am exposed to are of the Old Testament I never found it a conflict with my own beliefs...Though the job has not been without predictable difficulty...
every lunch period.. I duck into a church to pray
I alway wonder if one of parents will seem me entering or exiting a church..I carry a bible and a cross in my purse...
I once said cross my heart and there such silence! I had offended someone.
and I said a word without thinking once and mother hissed did you hear her she said ..CHRISTMAS
Once an israeli teacher during Passover ..suggested I sing a spiritual
...She wanted me to sing Go down Moses...but she mixed it up in her head with ...another spiritual....Go tell it on the Mountain and she hummed the melody,too
which highligts as its chorus ..that Jesus Christ is born
I gently pointed out to her..she meant....the other.
The schools won't even permit Jingle Bells..
because of the indirect association with Santa Claus
I once sat next to an israeli elderly couple on the subway ..they saw my guitar and asked what I did and I said I teach music in a synagogue
they said yeah!!!..sure you do!!
..sing something!
it was Passover so I sang Mah Nishtah nah
they were shocked and then they joined in the chorus
and then they began complaining loudly.. .about American Jews
to me ..sigh.and the director of the American Jewish school said to me once.. I hate to say this and it might sound ..strange but
(this about this an israeli teacher w/ some negative behavoir)
I think this is an an israeli thing..I was so shocked ....
I.......of all people.... hear complaints from both sides... a lot
my point is....there are no accidents...I am exposed to both israeli and Jewish traditions....
I had to learn Jewish songs.and in Hebrew and the holiday's meaning.
I read the torah when at work to understand more.
I am moved by the Jewish holidays and what they mean and the Jewish kids are radical in demanding their holiday songs!
I never wanted to partcipate in a service that denies Jesus so traditional Jewish services even liberal... not even Reform..but liberal conservative syngagogues was out of the question.
I went to a Jews for Jesus service last year for Rosh Hoshana and Yom Kippur... it combined soul,gospel,hebrew and a true love of Jesus and moving testimonies of Jews who grew up orthodox and had to come to accept Jesus as Savior..and read bible verses to back up this knowledge and many black people as well as jews attended ... and prayed that all Jews would come to know and accept and love the Lord as their Savior.
I loved these High Holiday services,especially Yom Kippur and look forward to it this year.
Any others can share?
in Jewish synagogues. I moonlight as a music specialist and for whatever reason... I have never figured this out.... the Jewish schools are my main clients.
By clients I mean subcontracted to a number and variety of schools and
demographic...a harlem school... multicultural schools...a WASP school
(where every child in the wealthy student body except the two black kids were blonde)........a celebrity school......... etc
The first Jewish director hired me by word of mouth and then other schools followed suit. I was even contacted by a Jewish director because someone listed my name on craig's list as a good Jewish music teacher and I had to explain I was not Jewish.
I have only two clients now and they are both Jewish schools.
Over the years I have sat down with varying Jewish directors and tried to convince them that they might be better off hiring someone in their traditon and heritage and religion..........
when I take african dance/drumming classes as narrow as this sounds I will only take from Africans!
I'm not sure why God has consistently placed me there..but the directors brush it off. One school did fire me to hire a Jewish person ...he played a klezmer ditty on the guitar as he passed my class to audition
Anyway Jewish curricula is part of my job
Since the teachings I am exposed to are of the Old Testament I never found it a conflict with my own beliefs...Though the job has not been without predictable difficulty...
every lunch period.. I duck into a church to pray
I alway wonder if one of parents will seem me entering or exiting a church..I carry a bible and a cross in my purse...
I once said cross my heart and there such silence! I had offended someone.
and I said a word without thinking once and mother hissed did you hear her she said ..CHRISTMAS
Once an israeli teacher during Passover ..suggested I sing a spiritual
...She wanted me to sing Go down Moses...but she mixed it up in her head with ...another spiritual....Go tell it on the Mountain and she hummed the melody,too
which highligts as its chorus ..that Jesus Christ is born
I gently pointed out to her..she meant....the other.
The schools won't even permit Jingle Bells..
because of the indirect association with Santa Claus
I once sat next to an israeli elderly couple on the subway ..they saw my guitar and asked what I did and I said I teach music in a synagogue
they said yeah!!!..sure you do!!
..sing something!it was Passover so I sang Mah Nishtah nah
they were shocked and then they joined in the chorus
and then they began complaining loudly.. .about American Jews
to me ..sigh.and the director of the American Jewish school said to me once.. I hate to say this and it might sound ..strange but
(this about this an israeli teacher w/ some negative behavoir)
I think this is an an israeli thing..I was so shocked ....
I.......of all people.... hear complaints from both sides... a lot
my point is....there are no accidents...I am exposed to both israeli and Jewish traditions....
I had to learn Jewish songs.and in Hebrew and the holiday's meaning.
I read the torah when at work to understand more.
I am moved by the Jewish holidays and what they mean and the Jewish kids are radical in demanding their holiday songs!
I never wanted to partcipate in a service that denies Jesus so traditional Jewish services even liberal... not even Reform..but liberal conservative syngagogues was out of the question.
I went to a Jews for Jesus service last year for Rosh Hoshana and Yom Kippur... it combined soul,gospel,hebrew and a true love of Jesus and moving testimonies of Jews who grew up orthodox and had to come to accept Jesus as Savior..and read bible verses to back up this knowledge and many black people as well as jews attended ... and prayed that all Jews would come to know and accept and love the Lord as their Savior.
I loved these High Holiday services,especially Yom Kippur and look forward to it this year.
Any others can share?
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Shame on those who oppose.
