Women, according to Jewish law, are constrained (depending on the cirucumstances) from singing before men. This is a blanket statement which, like most laws is dependent upon whom one asks for the actual parameters of when and under what circumstances and before which men and well, suffice it to say, everything depends. This law is referred to as KOL ISHA (kol--voice, isha---woman.)
We are more lenient, the we meaning my dh and I and family, restricting the "not listening to" to times of Shema/davening and love songs in general. (And dh says I shouldn't be listening to the love songs of a man either.)
But that isn't what this post is about. See, the thing is:
I sing like a crow. I've no vocal abilities whatsoever. I am probably one of the few women in the world who is told by her children when they are as young as age 2 "Don't sing Ima." More of a plea. A desperate plea.
Probably a good idea to comply. Singing much past that time is likely to do irreprabable damage to their ear drums if harm wasn't done already.
I can not carry a tune. I can't even find the tune to pick it up in the first place.
But I love to sing--I think a requirement of us crows...why those two genes would go together I've no idea---, and I'm apt to break out into song at a moments notice, simply in response to a single word.
"THAT'S NOT A SONG!!!" The Wit shouts. Poor child. Most of the time it is at best a corruption of a half remembered song whose tune is questionably related to the one I'm trying to belt out. I have subjected this chld to such torture with my vocal chords that I am fairly certain that one of the criterions for his future wife will be that she is mute; or at the very least will take an oath that she will never sing. What have I done to the child!!!
However, my sister R. sings beautifully. She is in fact an opera singer (and a pianist par excellance) and insists with the proper training I too could actually produce something approaching a melody.
She's a nice sister to lie like that.
Oh well. Aside from poor singing I'm absolutely pirfict.
Posted by Rachel Ann at June 23, 2005 06:38 PMHere--I'll share with you the bucket I use to carry tunes.
Posted by: Mozemen at June 23, 2005 07:48 PMVery cute post, Rachel Ann. That's a comment from one tone-deaf person to another. I do dramatic readings of the birthday song, rather than sing. ;)
Posted by: esther at June 24, 2005 12:49 AMUnfortunately, I have inherited this terrible singing voice. Alas for me. But I don't let that stop me. I sing all the time when I listen to music, sometimes even when I'm not. I usually don't sing around people, but the past couple days I did a few times and I was only asked to stop once, and that's only because the friend that asked me to stop doesn't think anyone else should sing. My point is, sing all you want so long as it doesn't bother anyone.
Oh yeah and "my dh and I and family" should read "my dh, my family, and I"
*This has been another posting by the one known only as "The Agent"*
Posted by: The Agent at June 24, 2005 06:56 AM