[Avodah] RAMBAM on Songs and Using Hebrew

[Eliyahu Grossman]

Personally, I think that the RAMBAM is speaking of the common language
versus the higher use of language, especially for chutzniks like those of
the Babylonian exile who spoke Aramaic, commonly and Hebrew for a higher
purpose, or for the Rambam, Arabaic commonly, or Hebrew for a higher
purpose, or for a good section of European Jewry who spoke in Yiddish among
themselves, and Hebrew only for a higher purpose. In other words, the song
of the common language which inspires can certainly be more suitable than a
Hebrew rap song played on the Israeli Gagalatz radio channel. And it goes in
the reverse as well. There is a section in Mesecate Berachot which follows a
similar train of thought concerning saying the Shema in a language other
than Hebrew.

I would disagree, however, with the original post that inferred that
non-Jewish inspirational songs should be considered acceptable. This might
be true for some portion of them, but we certainly cannot make a blanket
statement in that area, since the intent of the song should always be
brought to question for appropriateness, which is, in my opinion, more
important than the words. 

Purim Semeach
Eliyahu Grossman
Efrat, Israel


 
<-----------[Snipped Original]---------------------->
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 2011 16:05:27 -0400
From: Micha Berger <micha at aishdas.org>
Subject: Re: [Avodah] RAMBAM on Songs and Using Hebrew

On Fri, Mar 18, 2011 at 09:00:38AM -0700, Gershon Seif wrote:
: How would the Rambam explain how they communicated with one another
: in biblical times? Did they only speak Lashon HaKoesh for refined
: purposes? How did they conduct business? In some other language? I
: doubt it.

Well, the language of Avraham's homeland was Aramit. And there is such
a concept in Chazal that we always had Aramaic as a second language.
Perhaps this was one of the medrashim the Rambam didn't consider too
fantastical to take literally?

:-)BBii!
-Micha