Saturday, July 16, 2011

Music without a Beit haMikdash

Hi,

In a time when there is no Beit haMikdash, when the sages of the Talmud prohibit music, singing is permitted outside of a pub, but justification for permitting instrumental music - outside of a mitzvah context like a wedding - is harder to find.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:166)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

2 comments:

  1. Good morning, I'm not sure I understand. Is this meant to address listening to as well as playing instrumental music? Only at certain times? What does this mean for all of the thousands of CDs of "Jewish Music" that we can purchase?

    Take care, Michael

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  2. Hi Michael,

    Yes, it's even listening. As to the CDs of Jewish music, there is room to argue that live music and recorded music are different. Rav Moshe does express doubt regarding the propriety of concerts for tzedakah, though.

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