Three Weeks: Difference between revisions

==Listening to Music==

# It’s forbidden to listen to music from musical instruments during the three weeks. <Ref> Sh”t Kapei Aharon 52 writes that it’s clearly forbidden to listen to music during the three weeks. This is brought in Sh”t Igrot Moshe 1:166. Nitai Gavriel 15:1 writes that this law is missing from S”A and early poskim because there’s a general prohibition of [[Listening to Music]] and so there was no question about the three weeks. [There is a hint to the prohibition in the Pri Megadim and Maharam Shik who discuss playing music for an income during the three weeks.] However, because many are lenient like the Rama (unlike S”A and Bach) and are lenient regarding music all year, this question became relevant and it’s unanimously accepted by contemporary poskim that music is forbidden during the three weeks because it brings with it simcha just like dancing (explicitly forbidden by Magan Avraham 551:10). See next notes. </ref>

# Some say that one may listen to vocal music (voices singing) during the three weeks but not the 9 days. <Ref> Mekor Chaim 551:1 and Or letzion 3:25:2 write that during the 9 days one shouldn’t listen to even vocal music. This is brought as halacha in the Halachot UMinhagei Ben HaMesarim (by Rabbi Moshe Karp pg 25) and Nachmat Yisrael 3:3. Chazon Ovadyah (pg 151-4) and Torat Hamoadim 5:2 are lenient with vocal song that are praise to Hashem (especially for Shabbat including Shabbat Chazon). </ref>

# Some say that listening to recorded vocal music is forbidden, while others permit. <Ref> Sh”t Shevet Halevi 6:69, 8:127, Nitai Gavriel 15:1, Sh”t Tzitz Eliezer 15:33, Piskei Shemuot (pg 54) quoting Rav Elyashiv and Rav Karlitz, and Nechmat Yisrael 3:4 forbid listening to a recorded vocal song. However, Sh”t Igrot Moshe YD 2:137 and Sh”t Yachave Daat 6:34 permit (regarding Jewish music). [http://www.thehalacha.com/attach/Volume5/Issue13.pdf Halachically Speaking] quotes Rav Yisrael Belsky and Rav Efraim Greenblatt who forbid listening to singing which is meant to simulate actual music such as A capella because it creates the same musical experience. [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/735559/Rabbi_Aryeh_Lebowitz/Halachos_of_the_Three_Weeks Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz] writes that most permit listening to recorded voices singing. </ref>

# One is allowed to play and listen to music at a meal of Brit Milah during the three weeks. <ref> In general, Rama (551:3) permits music for a dvar mitzvah like a wedding. However, the Yavetz in his siddur (Amudei Shesh; quoted by Yafeh Lelev 560:7) writes that a simcha of a Brit Milah there should be no music. Eliyah Rabba 551:26 writes that the minhag is like the Yavetz. Regarding the three weeks Chida in Sh”t Chaim Shal 1:21 writes that the (Sephardic) minhag is to be lenient to have music at a meal of a Brit Milah. Ikrei HaDaat (Y”D 36:23), Sh”t Maaseh Avraham (Y”D 48), Moed Kol Chai (10:20), Ot Chaim VeShalom (the Munchatch Rebbe; 265:29), Torat HaMoadim 5:4, and Sh”t Yachave Daat 1:45 write that the Sephardic minhag is to lenient by the meal of a Brit Milah. (It seems that Shirei Knesset HaGedolah 551:33 who’s strict regarding the party for a Milah at night, but would agree concerning the meal right after the Milah. Additionally, it seems Sh”t Igrot Moshe 1:166 would agree as he even discusses a tzedaka banquet regarding music the rest of the year.) </ref>

# Some permit music at a meal for a Siyum of a Gemara. <Ref> Sh”t Yachave Daat 1:45 writes that music is permited for a seudat mitzvah including a siyum. Torat HaMoadim 5:4 extends this to even during the three weeks. </ref>

# Some permit music at a meal for a Pidyon HaBen. <Ref> Sh”t Yachave Daat 1:45 permits music at a suedat mitzvah such as a Pidyon HaBen. Torat HaMoadim 5:4 extends this to even during the three weeks. </ref>

# Some permit music at a meal for a Bar Mitzvah. <Ref> Sh"t Yachava Daat 6:34 and Torat HaMoadim 5:4 permit music at a simchat Bar Mitzvah during the three weeks. Darkei Horah (Dinei Ben Hametsarim pg 17, by Rav Asher Weiss) and Natai Gavriel (Ben HaMetzarim chapter 16:3) forbid. Halichot Emet 7:12 writes that the sephardic minhag is to be lenient and ashkenazic minhag is to be strict. [https://docs.google.com/viewer?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.shemayisrael.com%2Fparsha%2Fhalacha%2Fvolume_5_issue_13.pdf Halachically Speaking] writes that some are lenient. </ref>

# One should be strict not to play music at a tzedaka banquet during the three weeks. <Ref> Sh”t Igrot Moshe O”C 166 permits all types of festivities of mitzvah and says that perhaps even a tzadeka banquet perhaps can be included. However, the Sh”t Igrot Moshe concludes that during the three weeks we are more strict regarding music and therefore there is almost nothing to rely on to play music at a tzedaka banquet. </ref>  

# It is permissible and a mitzvah to learn Torah with a tune and niggun even during the three weeks. <Ref> Sh”t Mishna Halachot 6:107, Sh”t Yachave Daat 6:34, Torat HaMoadim 5:2, Sedei Chemed (Peat Sadeh, Ben HaMetsarim 1:10), </ref>