Anonymous

Listening to Women Sing: Difference between revisions

From Halachipedia
Line 1: Line 1:
==Kol Isha Overview==
==Kol Isha Overview==


#A woman’s voice is considered Ervah (inappropriate expression) of a woman and it is absolutely forbidden for a man to listen to a woman's voice. <ref>Gemara [[Berachot]] 24a based on Shir Hashirim (2:14) כי קולך ערב ומראיך נאוה, Shulchan Aruch E”H 75:3, Mishna Brurah 75:17. Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6. see also [http://www.aish.com/atr/Kol_Isha.html Aish.com] </ref> There's a major dispute whether this severe prohibition is biblical or rabbinic. As a separate issue for a man to think 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 s.v. 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).
#A woman’s voice is considered Ervah (inappropriate expression) of a woman and it is absolutely forbidden for a man to listen to a woman's voice. <ref>Gemara [[Berachot]] 24a based on Shir Hashirim (2:14) כי קולך ערב ומראיך נאוה, Shulchan Aruch O.C. 75:3, Mishna Brurah 75:17. Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6. see also [http://www.aish.com/atr/Kol_Isha.html Aish.com] </ref> There's a major dispute whether this severe prohibition is biblical or rabbinic. As a separate issue for a man to think 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 s.v. 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).
*Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6(8) writes that since having an arousing thoughts is Deoritta then listening to a woman’s voice which may cause one to have arousing thoughts is a Safek Deoritta which is a general dispute whether Safek Deoritta is a Issur Deoritta or Issur Derabbanan (Rambam Tumat Met 9:12 holds it’s Derabbanan and Rashba Kiddushin 73a holds it’s Deoritta).
*Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6(8) writes that since having an arousing thoughts is Deoritta then listening to a woman’s voice which may cause one to have arousing thoughts is a Safek Deoritta which is a general dispute whether Safek Deoritta is a Issur Deoritta or Issur Derabbanan (Rambam Tumat Met 9:12 holds it’s Derabbanan and Rashba Kiddushin 73a holds it’s Deoritta).
*Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6(9) quotes the Bet Shmuel 24:2 and [[Maggid]] Mishna (Issurei Biyah 21:2) who understand that the Rambam holds that looking at a woman’s bueaty is Derabbanan prohibition, however, he argues based on the Rambam Pirush Mishnayot (Sanhedrin 54) and Sefer Mitzvot (Lo Taaseh 353) that this is an Isser Deoritta.
*Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6(9) quotes the Bet Shmuel 24:2 and [[Maggid]] Mishna (Issurei Biyah 21:2) who understand that the Rambam holds that looking at a woman’s bueaty is Derabbanan prohibition, however, he argues based on the Rambam Pirush Mishnayot (Sanhedrin 54) and Sefer Mitzvot (Lo Taaseh 353) that this is an Isser Deoritta.
Sefer Eshkol (vol 3, pg 129), Maharikash 217, Nishmat Adam 4:11, Kaf HaChaim 75:27 holds that it’s a rabbinic prohibition, however, Tzel Kesef (vol 2, Maarechet [[Brachot]] 40:5) holds it’s a biblical prohibition. Sdei Chemed (Kuf, Klal 42) quotes other achronim who argue about this.
Sefer Eshkol (vol 3, pg 129), Maharikash 217, Nishmat Adam 4:11, Kaf HaChaim 75:27 holds that it’s a rabbinic prohibition, however, Tzel Kesef (vol 2, Maarechet [[Brachot]] 40:5) holds it’s a biblical prohibition. Sdei Chemed (Kuf, Klal 42) quotes other achronim who argue about this.


*In conclusion, there’s a major dispute whether this is a biblical or rabbinic prohibition. Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6(10) writes that it may be considered a rabbinic prohibition when taking into account other considerations. Mishna Brurah 75:17 quotes the Chaye Adam (same author as Nishmat Adam) and seems to agree with those who say it's a rabbinic prohibition.</ref> Therefore, one is not allowed to listen to a woman singing. <ref>Shulchan Aruch O"C 75:3, E"H 21:1 </ref>
*In conclusion, there’s a major dispute whether this is a biblical or rabbinic prohibition. Sh”t Yabia Omer 1:6(10) writes that it may be considered a rabbinic prohibition when taking into account other considerations. Mishna Brurah 75:17 quotes the Chaye Adam (same author as Nishmat Adam) and seems to agree with those who say it's a rabbinic prohibition.</ref> Therefore, one is not allowed to listen to a woman singing. <ref>Shulchan Aruch O.C. 75:3, Shulchan Aruch E.H. 21:1 </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>Shulchan Aruch E.H. 21:2 </ref>


==Who is Included?==
==Who is Included?==