My public high school orchestra which is located in the United States is scheduled to perform 'Hatikvah', the national anthem of Israel, at a large, public performance in New York City. Do you feel that this is an appropriate performance piece? Consider the controversial political and religious implications of the piece and the performing group. Thanks for your feedback.
For reference, here are the lyrics to this piece:
As long as deep in the heart,
The soul of a Jew yearns,
And forward to the East
To Zion, an eye looks
Our hope will not be lost,
The hope of two thousand years,
To be a free nation in our land,
The land of Zion and Jerusalem.
2006-11-14 13:43:17 · 13 answers · asked by NW 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The performance is at one of the premier concert halls in New York City. This is the only national anthem that we will be playing and the concert is in front of our parents and the general public in NYC.
2006-11-14 14:58:33 · update #1
I find this highly offensive. This implies that you are supportive of the genocide being waged on the Palestinian people.
I would say nothing till the day of the performance.
When it started I would lay down my instrument and turn my back.
Love and blessings Don
2006-11-14 13:55:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think it's fine. At hockey games, the national anthem of each team's country is played, I think. It is not pushing any religion, or any political position, it is simply playing a beautiful piece of music and honouring, or respecting, a particular country at the same time.
After all, when the Canadian National anthem is played in a hockey game held in Detroit, some Americans could complain that Canada was supposed to be part of the USA (the intention first of the colonial fighters against Brittain, and later on the intention of the American army in the war of 1812). It would be silly. In the same way whatever one believes about the land now held by Israel I believe it would be silly to object to an anthem remembering the yearning for the Jews for their land.
However, if you are one of the performers, and if for some reason it is offensive for you, then you should tell the director(s) well in advance that you cannot perform. I wouldn't agree with you but you have a right to your convictions. But don't do as someone suggested and wait for the performance to make a spectacle of yourself. I don't think that will earn you much respect. It would be too obvious the purpose was to make a spectacle of yourself and not being faithful to a conviction. Conviction seeks to change things, and acts ahead of time when it can.
2006-11-14 13:58:05 · answer #2 · answered by Mr Ed 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You were very careful not to mention what the performance was. If you are playing for the Israeli delegation to the UN, it would be so appropriate that I can't believe that you are asking the question. You are not singing as I read the question, so the words aren't your words and you are just honoring an friend of the US.
I could think of places it would not be appropriate, but you haven't given anywhere near enough info to make that determination. You didn't say rather you were performing several national anthems, what the audience was, what the occasion was or anything that might be of use other than you personally have a problem with Israel.
2006-11-14 13:54:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well I have a pretty good answer to that. At least I think so. If your brother RESPECTS your beliefs. . . . is there something wrong with your brother ?
If an Israeli High School Orchestra performs OUR National Anthem. ... is that 'appropriate' ?? Consider the controversial, political, and religious 'implications' of the piece and the performing group. Well, that's my feedback. I hope you use your God-given brain to figure this out on your own.
2006-11-14 13:55:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like another person pointed out you failed to mention the reason for the performance.
It seems highly unlikely that a public high school orchestra would simply decide to play Hatikvah unless their was a symbolic reason behind it like the meaning for the public performance in New York. If its something like Israel awareness day (if such a thing exists) then it would be appropriate.
2006-11-14 14:46:20 · answer #5 · answered by Gamla Joe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well if you can play the russian or any other national anthem, without any problem religiously. then it would be just plain politicial hyprocricy, not to be able to play the Ysralee national anthem. the task of the musician is to play the music to the best of your ability. and not to quibble as the politicial covens do. and i realy resent politics that tries to determine what music i should listen to. i do not think that music, should be regulated by politics but by the consumer or the aucience. and it is not appropiate that musicians be dictated to politicialy as to what sort of music is acceptable. but of course if you are playing in front of an arynian nation gathering. you might want to consider the musicial taste of the audience. even if it would be quite humorously dangerous to do so.
2006-11-14 14:01:29 · answer #6 · answered by yehoshooa adam 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course its appropriate. Maybe they should play the Syrian national anthem too for balance though.
2006-11-14 13:46:35 · answer #7 · answered by kurticus1024 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Regardless of politics, musicians should be neutral and perform music for what it is, music.
2006-11-14 13:46:34 · answer #8 · answered by The Garage Dude 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
why not? when I was in high school we did songs in all kinds of different languages from all different cultures--school is for you to get an education,what is not educational about learning this piece?
2006-11-14 13:49:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why not? Its just a piece of music.
2006-11-14 13:46:25 · answer #10 · answered by Skippy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋