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Listening to Music: Difference between revisions

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===Halachic discussion===
===Halachic discussion===
# Shulchan Aruch 560:3 rules like the Rambam in Yad Chazakah (Taniot 5:14). Rama 560:3 brings the opinion of Tosfot as the Halacha (the prohibition of music is limited to a party or feast with wine.) Additionally, it applies to someone who regularly listens to music when going to sleep and [[waking up]] as is the practice of kings.             
# Shulchan Aruch 560:3 rules like the Rambam in Yad Chazakah (Taniot 5:14). Rama 560:3 brings the opinion of Tosfot as the Halacha (the prohibition of music is limited to a party or feast with wine.) Additionally, it applies to someone who regularly listens to music when going to sleep and [[waking up]] as is the practice of kings.             
# The Bach 560:3 holds that all music is forbidden whether it’s sung by people, played on instruments, is at a feast or isn't at a feast as the Sh”t HaRambam (see above) holds. Furthermore, the Bach explains that this is also what the Rambam meant in his Yad Chazakah. This stringent opinion is brought as halacha by some achronim including: Magan Avraham 560:8, Shlah (Tanit pg 60d), Bear Sheva (Sotah 49a), Mishna Brurah 560:13, and Sh”t Az Nidabru 8:58(1). Sh”t Igrot Moshe 1:166 writes that a righteous individual should be strict for the Bach, and Sh”t Az Nidbaru 8:58(1) holds that the minhag to rely on the Rama is a weak minhag.
# The Bach 560:3 holds that all music is forbidden whether it’s sung by people, played on instruments, is at a feast or isn't at a feast as the Sh”t HaRambam (see above) holds. Furthermore, the Bach explains that this is also what the Rambam meant in his Yad Chazakah. This stringent opinion is brought as halacha by some achronim including: Magen Avraham 560:8, Shlah (Tanit pg 60d), Bear Sheva (Sotah 49a), Mishna Brurah 560:13, and Sh”t Az Nidabru 8:58(1). Sh”t Igrot Moshe 1:166 writes that a righteous individual should be strict for the Bach, and Sh”t Az Nidbaru 8:58(1) holds that the minhag to rely on the Rama is a weak minhag.
# Some Achronim side with the Rama, such as: Sh”t Igrot Moshe (1:166) (but he does add that a Bal Nefesh (one who cares for his soul) should preferably be strict in accordance with the Bach), Rabbi Moshe Karp (Hilchot Uminhagei Ben HaMesarim pg 24), and Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer (15:33) (who says that the minhag shouldn’t be questioned). [The Sh”t Sheilat Shlomo (7:59-60) mentions that even though many Achronim follow the Bach, the Mishna Brurah doesn’t bring up any objections against the Rama, so one can surely rely on the Rama. However, this is difficult to understand because the Mishna Brurah 560:13 (also Bear Hetiev 560:6) quotes the objection of the Bach in reference to the Rama.]
# Some Achronim side with the Rama, such as: Sh”t Igrot Moshe (1:166) (but he does add that a Bal Nefesh (one who cares for his soul) should preferably be strict in accordance with the Bach), Rabbi Moshe Karp (Hilchot Uminhagei Ben HaMesarim pg 24), and Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer (15:33) (who says that the minhag shouldn’t be questioned). [The Sh”t Sheilat Shlomo (7:59-60) mentions that even though many Achronim follow the Bach, the Mishna Brurah doesn’t bring up any objections against the Rama, so one can surely rely on the Rama. However, this is difficult to understand because the Mishna Brurah 560:13 (also Bear Hetiev 560:6) quotes the objection of the Bach in reference to the Rama.]


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# Rambam (Taniot 5:14) adds that the minhag is to be lenient about listening to songs that include praise to Hashem. This leniency is based on the Rif ([[Brachot]] 21b, fifth perek) in the name of Rav Hai Gaon who writes that whereas singing songs of romance is forbidden, songs praising Hashem are permitted, even at parties. This is brought down by: Rosh ([[Brachot]] 5:1), Ramban (Hilchot Avel Yishana pg 89a), Sefer HaEshkol (1 pg 23), Sefer HaMeorot ([[Brachot]] 31a), Ravyah ([[Brachot]] [[Siman 91]]), Chiddushei HaRan (Gittin 7a), Ritva (Gittin 7a), Rabbenu Yerucham (pg 186c), Kaftor VePerach (6 pg 110), and Orchot Chaim (Hilchot [[Tisha BeAv]] 14).See Ish Matzliach's comment on Mishna Brurah holds like the Orchot Chaim.                 
# Rambam (Taniot 5:14) adds that the minhag is to be lenient about listening to songs that include praise to Hashem. This leniency is based on the Rif ([[Brachot]] 21b, fifth perek) in the name of Rav Hai Gaon who writes that whereas singing songs of romance is forbidden, songs praising Hashem are permitted, even at parties. This is brought down by: Rosh ([[Brachot]] 5:1), Ramban (Hilchot Avel Yishana pg 89a), Sefer HaEshkol (1 pg 23), Sefer HaMeorot ([[Brachot]] 31a), Ravyah ([[Brachot]] [[Siman 91]]), Chiddushei HaRan (Gittin 7a), Ritva (Gittin 7a), Rabbenu Yerucham (pg 186c), Kaftor VePerach (6 pg 110), and Orchot Chaim (Hilchot [[Tisha BeAv]] 14).See Ish Matzliach's comment on Mishna Brurah holds like the Orchot Chaim.                 
# The Meiri (Gittin 7a) and Otzer Geonim (Gittin 7a Siman 18) both permit songs of praise with musical instruments. However, the Orchot Chaim ([[Tisha BeAv]] 14) limits the leniency of songs of praise to people singing without musical instruments. Most Achronim hold like the Meiri including: the Maharikash (560e), Tzafnat Paneach (Devarim pg 156c), Sh”t Shoel VeNishal (O”C 6:45), Shemen HaMishcha (Tanit 560), Sh”t Sharei Tzion HaCohen (O”C 38), and Chazon Ovadyah (Arba Taniot pg 434).             
# The Meiri (Gittin 7a) and Otzer Geonim (Gittin 7a Siman 18) both permit songs of praise with musical instruments. However, the Orchot Chaim ([[Tisha BeAv]] 14) limits the leniency of songs of praise to people singing without musical instruments. Most Achronim hold like the Meiri including: the Maharikash (560e), Tzafnat Paneach (Devarim pg 156c), Sh”t Shoel VeNishal (O”C 6:45), Shemen HaMishcha (Tanit 560), Sh”t Sharei Tzion HaCohen (O”C 38), and Chazon Ovadyah (Arba Taniot pg 434).             
# Even songs of Torah and thanks to Hashem must be sung with the proper attitude and seriousness. Similarly, the Magen Avraham 560:10 writes that the Torah weeps before Hashem when Jews make a mockery of it by singing its verses. See Piskei Teshuvot and Ish Matzliach on Mishna Brurah who write that the Magan Avraham only forbids one who doesn’t have pure intent.                           
# Even songs of Torah and thanks to Hashem must be sung with the proper attitude and seriousness. Similarly, the Magen Avraham 560:10 writes that the Torah weeps before Hashem when Jews make a mockery of it by singing its verses. See Piskei Teshuvot and Ish Matzliach on Mishna Brurah who write that the Magen Avraham only forbids one who doesn’t have pure intent.                           
'''Classical music'''
'''Classical music'''
# Halichot Shlomo (pg 412) quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman who permits listening to music that doesn’t lead to (or accompany) dancing (whether it’s sung or played by an instrument). For example, classical music would fall into this category. It’s proper not to listen to such music during the three weeks as a sign of [[mourning]]. Similarly, Rabbi Shlomo Dechovsky (Techumin, Vol 21 pg 67) quotes Rav Moshe Feinstein as permitting listening to classical music as one works because it’s unrelated to dancing (the primary prohibition of simcha is dancing, as in Magen Avraham 551:10). Others including: Rabbi Yosef B. Soloveitchik (quoted in RJJ Journal vol 14 pg 34) and Aseh Lecha Rav (3 pg 16) agree. Lastly, Peninei Halacha (pg 145) permits songs that don’t lead to or involve simcha and, all the more so, sad songs. [Sh”t Shelat Shlomo 7:60 says that classical music should depend on the dispute between Rashi and Rambam.]             
# Halichot Shlomo (pg 412) quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman who permits listening to music that doesn’t lead to (or accompany) dancing (whether it’s sung or played by an instrument). For example, classical music would fall into this category. It’s proper not to listen to such music during the three weeks as a sign of [[mourning]]. Similarly, Rabbi Shlomo Dechovsky (Techumin, Vol 21 pg 67) quotes Rav Moshe Feinstein as permitting listening to classical music as one works because it’s unrelated to dancing (the primary prohibition of simcha is dancing, as in Magen Avraham 551:10). Others including: Rabbi Yosef B. Soloveitchik (quoted in RJJ Journal vol 14 pg 34) and Aseh Lecha Rav (3 pg 16) agree. Lastly, Peninei Halacha (pg 145) permits songs that don’t lead to or involve simcha and, all the more so, sad songs. [Sh”t Shelat Shlomo 7:60 says that classical music should depend on the dispute between Rashi and Rambam.]