[Avodah] Concerts in Reform temples

[Prof. Levine]

At 06:26 PM 8/11/2010, R. Y. Schaffer wrote:

>Hello all,
>
>Is anyone aware of the halachah concerning concerts in Reform temples?
>Specifically, I was an organist in a previous life, and am interested in
>dusting off my chops and playing again. There are several Reform (and
>Conservative, I believe) places in NYC with concert organs, and I would
>like to avail myself if possible. I've been having trouble reaching my
>rav, so I'd like to see if anyone has experience with this question here.
>
>Off the top of my head I can't figure any reason why not, but this isn't
>exactly the type of halachos I typically hear being discussed in Passaic
>or Bnei Brak or the other places I've been. I am assuming that one is
>not allowed to enter a church for this purpose, and anyway, having grown
>up Episcopalian myself, I think I would find that awkward, to say the least.
>
>Many thanks,
>
>--
>Yitzchak Schaffer

In a previous gilgul ( >:-} ), I used to speak for Chabad.  (I know 
that many will not believe this, but it is indeed true.)

Once I was asked to speak at a Chabad Shabbaton in Framingham, MA in 
Harold S. Kushner's (When Bad Things Happen to Good People) 
temple.  Not long before the event, I became uneasy about this, given 
that I knew that people would be riding on Shabbos to hear me 
speak.  I called Rav Shimon Schwab, ZT"L, and asked him what I should 
do. I explained that nothing would take place in the sanctuary.

Rav Schwab was a very wise man. He said to me, "I will not pasken for 
you, but I hold that one is not even allowed to walk through the door 
of a reform or conservative temple. Whatever you do there strengthens 
them. I know that Reb Moshe holds that one is allowed to teach in 
their afternoon schools, but I disagree." He suggested I call someone else.

I called Rav Bick, ZT"L, who told me that since it was so close to 
the weekend, I was committed to going. However, he suggested that I 
not do this again. I went, and after that I never spoke for Chabad on 
Shabbos. In fact, it was not long before I stopped speaking for 
Chabad altogether.

So, I have to assume that according to Rav Schwab you should not go 
into these places at all.

YL
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