That is, classical music is not merely written by Christians for Christian functions, but its nature and reason for being are Christian to begin with. Because Christianity s journey never ends en route to a goal that is never in sight, it requires the escort of Christian culture. Orthodox Jews eschew the use of musical instruments entirely during Sabbath and festival services, and most congregations restrict music to melismatic oriental chant. They do not need the elaborate artifice of classical music to achieve a sense of Eternity, Rosenzweig says, for the simple reason that Judaism recreates Eternity in daily life. Blessed art Thou, our God, King of the Universe, who plants eternal life among us .
Christian music suppresses the moment in favor of the teleological goal.
By contrast, the paragon of Jewish liturgical music is the Cantor standing between God and the congregation, imploring God to bring His presence here and now. In Western classical music, by contrast, the moment has no substance. It is perpetually sacrificed to the goal of tonal motion. Pop music has no overarching goal, however. It celebrates the moment, the sensual moment of enjoyment, in sharp contrast to the sanctified time of Judaism.