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<font size=3>At 06:26 PM 8/11/2010, R. Y. Schaffer wrote:<br><br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite="">Hello all,<br><br>
Is anyone aware of the halachah concerning concerts in Reform temples?
<br>
Specifically, I was an organist in a previous life, and am interested in
<br>
dusting off my chops and playing again. There are several Reform (and
<br>
Conservative, I believe) places in NYC with concert organs, and I would
<br>
like to avail myself if possible. I've been having trouble reaching my
<br>
rav, so I'd like to see if anyone has experience with this question
here.<br><br>
Off the top of my head I can't figure any reason why not, but this isn't
<br>
exactly the type of halachos I typically hear being discussed in Passaic
<br>
or Bnei Brak or the other places I've been. I am assuming that one is
<br>
not allowed to enter a church for this purpose, and anyway, having grown
<br>
up Episcopalian myself, I think I would find that awkward, to say the
least.<br><br>
Many thanks,<br><br>
-- <br>
Yitzchak Schaffer</blockquote><br>
In a previous gilgul ( >:-} ), I used to speak for Chabad. (I
know that many will not believe this, but it is indeed true.)<br><br>
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. <br><br>
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.<br><br>
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.<br><br>
So, I have to assume that according to Rav Schwab you should not go into
these places at all.<br><br>
YL</font></body>
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