Is it okay to listen to Jewish music?

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How much may we expose ourselves to non-Christian stuff? I used to practice Judaism and have spent enough time in Israel to develop a love for Jewish culture and music. And I have a bunch of Jewish books. Some Israeli pop, for example, is more or less “Jewish” music, just like some American pop (however preciously rare) is also somewhat Christian. Is it okay to listen to Jewish songs about God, for example? Or read Jewish books about God? None of that threatens my faith, and I have a good enough theological background and training that I’m able to know what does and what does not mesh well with Catholic thinking. But there is also a lot of tremendously wise and edifying stuff that comes from religiously serious Jews–like music and books.

What do you think?
 
Being a musician and someone who is all too familiar with artistic endeavors, I find it a bit amusing and sad when I hear how mystified some Catholics can be concerning the arts (not you, but others). I find it hard to believe that anyone in good conscience would believe that it’s wrong to listen to anything non Catholic/sacred. Does this mean we can’t listen to music written by protestants? Martin Luther himself wrote the choral A mighty fortress is our God, and guess where it is today? In Catholic hymnals. There is nothing theologically sound about rejecting music on the premise that it does not concern the Catholic faith. That isn’t to say that all music is good, but I’m making a distinction between healthy discernment and scrupulosity. I hope that helps.

God bless,

Rob
 
Colorad007 said:
How much may we expose ourselves to non-Christian stuff? I used to practice Judaism and have spent enough time in Israel to develop a love for Jewish culture and music. And I have a bunch of Jewish books. Some Israeli pop, for example, is more or less “Jewish” music, just like some American pop (however preciously rare) is also somewhat Christian. Is it okay to listen to Jewish songs about God, for example? Or read Jewish books about God? None of that threatens my faith, and I have a good enough theological background and training that I’m able to know what does and what does not mesh well with Catholic thinking. But there is also a lot of tremendously wise and edifying stuff that comes from religiously serious Jews–like music and books.

What do you think?
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Jesus did it all, except for the pop and rock part of it.
So …?
 
I think it’s fine. Some retention of a sense of Jewish identity is not only ok but probably ideal, so long as you don’t do anything to imply true inherent superiority compared to non-Jewish Catholics or a spiritual benefit to following the Mosaic Law (or any doctrinal heresies, obviously).

Personally as a convert from Protestantism for my first few years as a Catholic I still found myself attracted to “contemporary Christian” music, but gradually I drifted away from it until I developed a dislike for most of it. I think that was a legitimate path to the spirituality God is leading me to, but your case sounds quite different.
 
It should be fine, you might want to check the lyrics and avoid anything offensive to Christian sensibilities, although offhand I don’t know of much that would be.

One Jewish artist I like is Matisyahu, great fusion of Jewish tradition with modern styling.
 
No, there is no problem listening to Jewish music. I myself like klezmer, albeit in small doses.
 
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