Jewish Scene
Introducing 1st religious women's rock band
Nissan Shtrauchler
Published: 25.05.09, 09:31
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35 Talkbacks for this article
1. New Rock Group
Velvel ,   Jerusalem   (05.25.09)
at first it seems to be a nice idea, but if they claim to be religious why don't they cover their all the way? we all know that a real religious married women has absolutely no hair showing.
2. #1 You're right. Also...
Chaim   (05.25.09)
I can see their forearms! Clearly these girls aren't genuinely religious - only burkah wearers are true Jews
3. You Go Girls! Kewl.
(05.25.09)
BTW, Velvel, some people hold that a tefach of a married woman's hair is allowed to show (not YOUR Rabbi, obviously, but probably they have duly consulted with theirs). If you're worried about it, don't look.
4. I love that covered music, though it is not audible
observer   (05.25.09)
5. Translating "Ervah" as "lewdness" is VERY incorrect.
L ,   Israel   (05.25.09)
Ynet, I'm surprised. It's a nice article. You ALMOST wrote a nice piece about some Haredi individuals. But ya' HAD to shtup in that line about "men are banned from all of their performances due to Jewish law, which rules that 'The voice of a singing woman equals lewdness.' ". NO: the word in Hebrew is "Ervah" which is NOT "lewdness" (which is defined as "crude and offensive in a sexual way"). "Ervah" is a part of a woman that is PRIVATE and BEAUTIFUL (not "offensive" or "lewd") and reserved for either her immediate family and other women, or, in some cases, only for her husband. I know the Red Hot Chili Peppers' mantra is the rule of the day: "Give it away, give it away, give it away now" -- but for some, there are some things that are still private and special, that are not to be given away to just anyone.
6. Go girls!!!!!
Talula ,   Israel   (05.25.09)
Nice article.
7. #1
Talula ,   Israel   (05.25.09)
Who are you to say how Jewish they should be? Who are you to judge anyone? You sad sorry miserable excuse for a human being. Does it piss you off because they have minds of their own? Clearly it does.
8. IN Torah Law, there is no such prohibition
eddie ,   london UK   (05.25.09)
In The TeNaKh, women singers existed , and all of Israel were permitted to lsiten to them. In times of joy, women would sing, and the righteous Israelites would listen. This rabbinic prohibiton is false, and only psychologically repressive.
9. #1 Velvel, get alive
SR   (05.25.09)
10. new meaning for "cover band"
(05.25.09)
11. #8 Thanks for the clarification!
Secular ,   Israel   (05.25.09)
12. thanks but i prefer Maddona
Avi ,   Israel   (05.25.09)
sorry luvs you just dont rock my world.
13. Taliban:1 Art :0
Shimon ,   Cincinnati, USA   (05.25.09)
Sorry, but this peudoreligious nonsense has gone WAY too far. Is there no limit to the Shtetlniks' "You can't look at a female without evil thoughts" mentality? 1. You don't know what I'm thinking. You are projecting your demented thoughts on me. 2. Men can look at women without so called "evil" thoughts. 3. Thoughts aren't "good" or "evil". Those are your labels and have nothing to do with "innate qualities". Sorry, that crap went out a LONG time ago. 4. Get a life. 5. I doubt their music is good enough to overcome the inherent insult to half the human race.
14. That music is crap, its not rock
jennifer ,   LA   (05.25.09)
crap crap crap, when a group of girls sings no men allowed it make me thing that they are lesbians.
15. this only seems weird because the world has degenerated
Mari   (05.25.09)
in the middle ages in Europe only men and boys sang in choirs, only men and boys were actors. a woman's role was clear, and is still very clear in the TanaH, in the Hazal, and also in the Christian scriptures - it's to be help mate for the husband, run the household and have and raise children. Everything else is perversion.
16. NOMBER 8
had enoough   (05.25.09)
Are u reform?? because you dont know the laws about hearing a woman singing live?? lets start with your knowledge on tenach where does it say women used to sing? (and dont tell me by the spliutting of the sea because you will see the quote is that miriam took a musical instrument and she said sing...... does not mean the women sang!!! so go on please explain
17. Talkback N. 16 - what an idiot
Avi-former Sruggie ,   Israel   (05.25.09)
Look at Sh'mot 15:20-21 "...And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam SANG unto them..." I guess if the current Orthodox-rabbinic idiocy had been implemented this pasuq wouldn't appear in the Torah.
18. Not the first
Jessie ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (05.25.09)
Tofa'ah, founded 27 years ago, was the first women's religious rock band. We're about to release our 9th CD, and have played all over Israel, from Binyanei HaUma to Neve Tirtza women's prison. Tofa'ah rocks!!
19. London
Joseph ,   London England   (05.25.09)
It's wonderful to see women working within the framework of Halacha. Here in London we have women only plays and other entertainment by women for women. Frum women have the same right to develop their musical skills.
20. Reply to #1 Hair covering
Danny ,   London England   (05.25.09)
If there are only other women present, rules of hair covering may be less stringent. Believe it or not some religious women wear a scarf over part of their sheitel, either as a fashion statement, or to make it clear they are covering their hair.
21. Reply to #13 Women singers
Akiva ,   NYC USA   (05.25.09)
I've grown up in mainstream American society and it seems to me that most women singers want to be sexy and that they dress and sing in a manner intended to be sexy. I'm not criticizing them, just pointing out the obvious reality. These women don't want to use sex to sell their music, and that's perfectly legitimate.
22. Reply to #14 Lesbians???
Danny ,   NYC USA   (05.25.09)
Three of the women are married and three hope to be married. In Orthodox Jewish circles the ban on men listening to women sing is nothing special, and is mentiuoned as far back as the Babylonian Talmud [Kol Isha Erva] or about two millennia ago.
23. Reply to #15 Men and boys
Joseph ,   London England   (05.25.09)
The rule against women singing in Cathedral choirs did not end in the Middle Ages. As far as I know the Church of England and Roman Cathedrals still have male choirs, just as traditional synagogues have male choirs and cantors.
24. Reply to #16 Song at the Sea
Sherlock Holmes ,   London England   (05.25.09)
Rashi, based on the Mechilta and Sota 30B, says that Moshe led the men and Miriam led the women in responsive singing. The point is the men and women appear to have sung separately and possibly the women's musical instruments made their voices less audible to the men.
25. where in Torah is Music the same as singing woman?
observer   (05.25.09)
does covering the woman musician head makes the music hoarse? Does a Concerto need separation of its different tones?
26. #21
Shimon ,   Cincinnati, USA   (05.25.09)
Right. That ain't the reason. Answer me this: Why does their picture appear? Also, no one says they have to use sex to sell music. Those clothes don't shout sex. They want only female fans at a concert? Great...I wouldn't have bought a ticket anyway. My thoughts in 13 still stand.
27. Akiva #21
Avi-former Sruggie ,   Israel   (05.25.09)
I know many Israeli girls who study classical singing - for the love of uplifting classical music. I cannot believe an American person in 21st century thinks in this sexist way. Perhaps you should move to Iran?
28. I can't believe how jaded some of these talkbacks are
Elisheva ,   Israel   (05.25.09)
I can't believe the lack of respect I read in some of these comments. In today's world, where modesty and sanctity of the family unit have all but fallen by the wayside, these women have decided to do what they love but in a modest, sanctified way. How jaded must you have to be to miss the beauty in what they're portraying!
29. All the guys should get out of here. They're jamming.
Ypip ,   Canada   (05.26.09)
30. #28 JADED.Thats exactly what
Naomi ,   T.A   (05.26.09)
they and their views are. But it shouldn't surprise you. That's what this hate filled frequent flyers group at ynet do best. Personally , I yawn. I've passed the stage you're at now. My group is the yawn/ignore one. But you don't have enough points to join us yet, as you still care, which is nice.
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