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Listening to Women Sing: Difference between revisions
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==Kol Isha Overview== | ==Kol Isha Overview== | ||
# The Gemara (Brachot 24a) establishes that 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>S"A E”H 75:3 </ref> | # The Gemara (Brachot 24a) establishes that 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>S"A E”H 75:3. Sh”t Yabea Omer 1:6 </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> | # 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 D”H 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 D”H 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). | ||
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# Therefore, one is not allowed to listen to a woman singing. <Ref>S"A O"C 75:3, E"H 21:1 </ref> One may listen to a woman's non-singing voice. <ref>Bet Shmuel E"H 21:4 writes that one may listen to a woman's non-singing voice. Mishna Berura 75:18 writes that one may not have intent to get benefit from a woman's voice even if one is regular to hear that voice. Hacham Ovadia Yosef in Yabia Omer (O"C 1:6:11) extends the prohibition even in cases where one is used to hearing a woman's voice. </ref> | # Therefore, one is not allowed to listen to a woman singing. <Ref>S"A O"C 75:3, E"H 21:1 </ref> One may listen to a woman's non-singing voice. <ref>Bet Shmuel E"H 21:4 writes that one may listen to a woman's non-singing voice. Mishna Berura 75:18 writes that one may not have intent to get benefit from a woman's voice even if one is regular to hear that voice. Hacham Ovadia Yosef in Yabia Omer (O"C 1:6:11) extends the prohibition even in cases where one is used to hearing a woman's voice. </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 Seriedei Esh 2:8 </ref> | # Some authorities are lenient when two women sing together because two voices can’t be heard simultaneously. <Ref>Sh”t Seriedei Esh 2:8 </ref> | ||
# 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). | # 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). | ||
