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Listening to Women Sing: Difference between revisions

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# Some authorities are lenient when two women sing together because two voices can’t be heard simultaneously. <Ref>Sh”t Sridei Esh 2:8 quoting Rav Azriel Hildesheimer and Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch. Chatan Sofer (Taharat Yadayim 14) agrees. </ref> However, most poskim seem to disagree. <ref> Beer Sheva (Beer Mayim Chaim 3), the Steipler (cited in Journal Ohel Moshe 1992), Sh"t Shevet Halevi 4:197, Badei Hashulchan Nidah 199:119, Kinyan Torah 85, Avnei Yashfei 2:5, Ishei Yisrael 55:32, and Nitei Gavriel Yichud pg. 348 </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 quoting Rav Azriel Hildesheimer and Rav Shimshon Raphael Hirsch. Chatan Sofer (Taharat Yadayim 14) agrees. </ref> However, most poskim seem to disagree. <ref> Beer Sheva (Beer Mayim Chaim 3), the Steipler (cited in Journal Ohel Moshe 1992), Sh"t Shevet Halevi 4:197, Badei Hashulchan Nidah 199:119, Kinyan Torah 85, Avnei Yashfei 2:5, Ishei Yisrael 55:32, and Nitei Gavriel Yichud pg. 348 </ref>
==Recorded or Non-Live==
==Recorded or Non-Live==
# Some are lenient to allow listening to a woman's voice on a tape or radio if one doesn't know what the singer looks like (but prohibit listening to a woman's voice when one does know what the singer looks like, even if one doesn't see her when one is listening), and some are even lenient when one does know what she looks like. <Ref>Yalkut Yosef (Otzer Dinim LeIsha pg 386), Halichot Olam (vol 1, pg 124), Yabia Omer OC 1:6, OC 9:108:43.
# Some are lenient to allow listening to a woman's voice on a tape or radio (and not seeing her image) if one doesn't know what the singer looks like. But if one does know what the singer looks like it is prohibited listen to her voice. Some say that it is only considered knowing what she looks like if one saw her in person and not having seen her picture.<Ref>Yalkut Yosef (Otzer Dinim LeIsha pg 386), Halichot Olam (vol 1, pg 124), Yabia Omer OC 1:6, OC 9:108:43.
* Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6(1) writes that perhaps if one doesn’t see the woman singing it’s not an issue based on the Gemara Sanhedrin 45 which says that a man’s thoughts are only aroused when seeing a woman. He continues that even if one doesn’t see her but one recognizes her it’s certainly forbidden based on the Gemara [[Megillah]] 15 which says that men would have improper thoughts by simply saying Rachav’s name because they once recognized her. He supports this point by quoting Gemara Avoda Zara 20b which says that one may not look at the nice clothing of a woman even when she’s not wearing them because they may arouse thoughts and that’s only when one recognizes her. See Sh”t Maharam Shik E”H 53 who is also lenient if one doesn’t know what the women looks like, whereas the Sh”t Chelkat Yacov 1:163 is strict.
* Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6(1) writes that perhaps if one doesn’t see the woman singing it’s not an issue based on the Gemara Sanhedrin 45 which says that a man’s thoughts are only aroused when seeing a woman. He continues that even if one doesn’t see her but one recognizes her it’s certainly forbidden based on the Gemara [[Megillah]] 15 which says that men would have improper thoughts by simply saying Rachav’s name because they once recognized her. He supports this point by quoting Gemara Avoda Zara 20b which says that one may not look at the nice clothing of a woman even when she’s not wearing them because they may arouse thoughts and that’s only when one recognizes her. See Sh”t Maharam Shik E”H 53 who is also lenient if one doesn’t know what the women looks like, whereas the Sh”t Chelkat Yacov 1:163 is strict.
* Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6(13) concludes that if one recognizes a woman even by having seen her picture it’s forbidden to listen to her voice on a tape or radio, however, if one doesn’t recognize her it’s permitted to listen to her voice on a tape or radio. See Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer 5:2 and Sh”t Maharshag 2:118 are lenient with regards to the radio, whereas the Sh"t Mishna Halachot 4:86 is strict about this.  
* Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6(13) concludes that if one recognizes a woman even by having seen her picture it’s forbidden to listen to her voice on a tape or radio, however, if one doesn’t recognize her it’s permitted to listen to her voice on a tape or radio. Yabia Omer 9:108:43 concludes that seeing her picture once doesn't mean that you really recognize her and so it is permitted as long as you didn't see her in person. See Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer 5:2 and Sh”t Maharshag 2:118 who are lenient with regards to the radio, whereas the Sh"t Mishna Halachot 4:86 is strict about this.  
* see also Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz Ten Minute Halacha on [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/744356/rabbi-aryeh-lebowitz/ten-minute-halacha-kol-isha-on-recorded-music/ Kol Isha on Recorded Music]</ref> Of course, this is only when the song isn't a sexual or inappropriate song. <Ref>Yalkut Yosef (Tefilah Pesukei DeZimra pg 673) </ref>
* see also Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz Ten Minute Halacha on [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/744356/rabbi-aryeh-lebowitz/ten-minute-halacha-kol-isha-on-recorded-music/ Kol Isha on Recorded Music]</ref> Of course, this is only when the song isn't a sexual or inappropriate song. <Ref>Yalkut Yosef (Tefilah Pesukei DeZimra pg 673) </ref>