Three Weeks: Difference between revisions

# 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>

===Non-live music===

===Live A cappella (singing without instruments)===

# 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>

# Many say that it is permissible to sing with one's mouth during the three weeks. <ref> Mekadesh Yisroel (pg 20), Chut Shuni (Shabbat, vol 2, pg 325), Sh"t Shevet HaLevi 3:15, [http://www.thehalacha.com/attach/Volume5/Issue13.pdf Halachically Speaking] (Vol 5, Issue 13, note 46)</ref>

===Non-live A cappella===

# 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>