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==Kol Isha Overview== | ==Kol Isha Overview== | ||
# A woman’s voice is considered Ervah (nakedness) of a woman and it is absolutely forbidden for a man to listen to a woman's voice. <Ref>Gemara [[Berachot]] 24a based on Shir Hashirim (2:14) כי קולך ערב ומראיך נאוה, | # A woman’s voice is considered Ervah (nakedness) of a woman and it is absolutely forbidden for a man to listen to a woman's voice. <Ref>Gemara [[Berachot]] 24a based on Shir Hashirim (2:14) כי קולך ערב ומראיך נאוה, Shulchan Aruch E”H 75:3, Mishna Berura 75:17. Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6. see also [http://www.aish.com/atr/Kol_Isha.html Aish.com] </ref> There's a major dispute whether this severe prohibition is biblical or rabbinic, however, everyone agrees that arousing improper thoughts is a biblical prohibition. <Ref> | ||
* Gemara Avoda Zara 20b learns from the Pasuk “VeNishmarta MeKol Dvar Raah” that that a person may not have arousing thoughts. Tosfot s.v. Shelo understands this is a biblical prohibition as it’s based on a pasuk. Rabbenu Yonah (Igeret HaTeshuva 19-20, quoted by Bet Yosef E”H 21:1) agrees and adds that even arousing thoughts about a single woman are a Biblical prohibition. Bet Shmuel 21:2 writes that everyone agrees that an arousing thought is a Biblical prohibition (however, see Sh”t Achiezer 3:25(5) who writes that the Rambam holds having arousing thoughts is only a Rabbinic prohibition). | * Gemara Avoda Zara 20b learns from the Pasuk “VeNishmarta MeKol Dvar Raah” that that a person may not have arousing thoughts. Tosfot s.v. Shelo understands this is a biblical prohibition as it’s based on a pasuk. Rabbenu Yonah (Igeret HaTeshuva 19-20, quoted by Bet Yosef E”H 21:1) agrees and adds that even arousing thoughts about a single woman are a Biblical prohibition. Bet Shmuel 21:2 writes that everyone agrees that an arousing thought is a Biblical prohibition (however, see Sh”t Achiezer 3:25(5) who writes that the Rambam holds having arousing thoughts is only a Rabbinic prohibition). | ||
* Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6(8) writes that since having an arousing thoughts is Deoritta then listening to a woman’s voice which may cause one to have arousing thoughts is a Safek Deoritta which is a general dispute whether Safek Deoritta is a Issur Deoritta or Issur Derabbanan (Rambam Tumat Met 9:12 holds it’s Derabbanan and Rashba Kiddushin 73a holds it’s Deoritta). | * Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6(8) writes that since having an arousing thoughts is Deoritta then listening to a woman’s voice which may cause one to have arousing thoughts is a Safek Deoritta which is a general dispute whether Safek Deoritta is a Issur Deoritta or Issur Derabbanan (Rambam Tumat Met 9:12 holds it’s Derabbanan and Rashba Kiddushin 73a holds it’s Deoritta). | ||
* Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6(9) quotes the Bet Shmuel 24:2 and [[Maggid]] Mishna (Issurei Biyah 21:2) who understand that the Rambam holds that looking at a woman’s bueaty is Derabbanan prohibition, however, he argues based on the Rambam Pirush Mishnayot (Sanhedrin 54) and Sefer Mitzvot (Lo Taaseh 353) that this is an Isser Deoritta. | * Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6(9) quotes the Bet Shmuel 24:2 and [[Maggid]] Mishna (Issurei Biyah 21:2) who understand that the Rambam holds that looking at a woman’s bueaty is Derabbanan prohibition, however, he argues based on the Rambam Pirush Mishnayot (Sanhedrin 54) and Sefer Mitzvot (Lo Taaseh 353) that this is an Isser Deoritta. | ||
Sefer Eshkol (vol 3, pg 129), Maharikash 217, Nishmat Adam 4:11, Kaf HaChaim 75:27 holds that it’s a rabbinic prohibition, however, Tzel Kesef (vol 2, Maarechet [[Brachot]] 40:5) holds it’s a biblical prohibition. Sdei Chemed (Kuf, Klal 42) quotes other achronim who argue about this. | Sefer Eshkol (vol 3, pg 129), Maharikash 217, Nishmat Adam 4:11, Kaf HaChaim 75:27 holds that it’s a rabbinic prohibition, however, Tzel Kesef (vol 2, Maarechet [[Brachot]] 40:5) holds it’s a biblical prohibition. Sdei Chemed (Kuf, Klal 42) quotes other achronim who argue about this. | ||
* In conclusion, there’s a major dispute whether this is a biblical or rabbinic prohibition. Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6(10) writes that it may be considered a rabbinic prohibition when taking into account other considerations. Mishna Brurah 75:17 quotes the Chaye Adam (same author as Nishmat Adam) and seems to agree with those who say it's a rabbinic prohibition.</ref> Therefore, one is not allowed to listen to a woman singing. <Ref> | * In conclusion, there’s a major dispute whether this is a biblical or rabbinic prohibition. Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6(10) writes that it may be considered a rabbinic prohibition when taking into account other considerations. Mishna Brurah 75:17 quotes the Chaye Adam (same author as Nishmat Adam) and seems to agree with those who say it's a rabbinic prohibition.</ref> Therefore, one is not allowed to listen to a woman singing. <Ref>Shulchan Aruch O"C 75:3, E"H 21:1 </ref> | ||
# This prohibition applies at all times and not just when one is reading Shema. <ref>S”A E”H 21:2 </ref> | # This prohibition applies at all times and not just when one is reading Shema. <ref>S”A E”H 21:2 </ref> | ||
# Some authorities are lenient when two women sing together because two voices can’t be heard simultaneously. <Ref>Sh”t Sridei Esh 2:8 </ref> | # Some authorities are lenient when two women sing together because two voices can’t be heard simultaneously. <Ref>Sh”t Sridei Esh 2:8 </ref> |