Music during the three weeks

Yesterday we reviewed the opinion of Rabbi Eli'ezer Melamed regarding playing or listening to music during the three weeks. The thrust of his opinion is that what should avoid is happy or celebratory music (see this).    The primary source for this criteria is Maimonides' (Ta'anit 5:14) words that in perpetual remembrance of the Bet haMiqdash "...vekhol mashmi'e qol shel shir asur lismoah bahem...  "...it is forbidden to rejoice with musical songs". Therefore, when music is not intended for joy and rejoicing, it is not forbidden.     In the same text, Maimonides also said: "vekhen gazru shelo lenagen bikhle shir..." "The Rabbis forbade playing musical instruments ". Rabbi Obadya Yosef explains that what makes music a source of happiness is not its content or categorization, as rabbi Melamed claims, but the fact that is played with instruments.  This is why Rabbi Yosef would indicate that playing or listening to  songs a cappella, i.e., without musical instruments is authorized until Rosh Hodesh Ab, even if the music is of a celebratory nature.  This is a good example of how two or more opinions among rabbis are formed even when both are analyzing the same source (=Maimonides). In this case, the two rabbis understand differently the nature of 'celebratory music'. For Rabbi Melamed is about the content and nature of music (melancholic, happy, etc.) while for Rabbi Yosef, is about the way it is played, i.e., a cappella or with musical instruments.  Although the subject of playing or listening to music during the three weeks is not mentioned explicitly in the shulhan 'arukh or Mishne Tora, every year I receive many questions on this custom.  As the reader can see there is no one single view on this matter.  There is a third opinion, for example, followed in some Sephardic communities, that one should avoid listening to live instrumental music from the 17 of Tamuz and avoid all kind of music (including electronic music) during the week of Tish'a beAb. Every person should follow his or her community and family customs.  Shabbat Shalom!  Candle lighting in NYC:    8.10 pm Shabbat ends in NYC:       9.10 pm

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What music is allowed during he three weeks?

Yesterday we examined the matter of listening to or playing music during the three weeks: we showed that music represents an expression of happiness and that there are Halakhic precedents forbidden listening music in times of mourning (seethis).  Still, when the shulhan 'arukh mentions the customs and restrictions of these three weeks, and particularly the restrictions after the month of Ab begins, it does not indicate anything explicit about listening or playing music.  This is one of the reasons why we will find different contemporary Halakhic opinions redefining the type of music that might be allowed or forbidden during these days.  Rabbi Eliezer Melamed (Penine Halakha, Zemanim, 141-146) explains that not all music should be banned during these days. In his opinion the original rabbinic restriction (which theoretically should be applied beyond these three weeks) forbids playing music in remembrance of the destruction of the Bet haMiqdash whenever music is played in an environment of celebration, and/or when music invites to dancing (weddings, Bar Mitzva, etc.), or at a live concert.  But, he explains, not all music is celebratory music. Classical, inspirational music or background music in a shopping mall is not related to "celebration" or to "happiness".  The same could be said about music lessons or a National Anthem, etc. Besides non-celebratory music there is also melancholic music. The Talmud relates that in ancient Israel sad or melancholic music was played in funerals with a type of flute which brought peoples' minds into a mood of grief (Shabbat 151a). Based on the distinction of the three types of music Rabbi Melamed says:   One should avoid listening to celebratory music during the three weeks.  Until the beginning of the month of Ab, one could listen to inspirational or non-celebratory music, and then, from that day until the 9th of Ab, only melancholic Jewish music should be allowed.  This is, by the way, the criteria that the Israeli religious radio station Arutz Sheva follows during these days.    Tomorrow, B'H, we will review the opinion of Rabbi Obadya Yosef on this subject.

Click here to listen to shi'ure Tora, Israeli news and Jewish music from Israel's Radio ARUTZ SHEVA   (for English click here)

Music during the three weeks

Yesterday we explained that during the three weeks between the 17th of Tamuz and the 9th of Ab we keep certain customs of mourning. We do not celebrate weddings, do not recite Sheheheyanu, we refrain from buying, building etc (see this).   What about playing music or listening to music during these three weeks? In Jewish sources playing music is one of the highest expressions of happiness. When the people of Israel crossed the Sea of Reeds (aka the Red sea) and saw that they were finally free from their Egyptian masters,  Miriyam --Moshe's sister--led the people into singing and playing musical instruments expressing thus their joy and happiness . Music was played for the bride and groom and in many other joyous occasions since Talmudic times or earlier.   The rabbis also referred to playing music in relation to mourning. A person who is in mourning for his father or his mother cannot play, listen to music or attend a celebration where music is played for a a whole year. A mourner might attend, for example, the religious celebration of a Bar Mtzva, but it will not be allowed to participate of the Bar Mitzva's party if music is played there.  The rabbis of the Talmud also referred to music in regards to mourning for the Bet haMiqdash. in Mishne Tora ta'aniot 5:12-15 Maimonides enumerates a list of restrictions that the Rabbis established after the destruction of the second Bet haMiqdash. Among those restrictions, he says (5:14)    וכן גזרו שלא לנגן בכלי שיר וכל מיני זמר וכל משמיעי קול של שיר אסור לשמוח בהן ואסור לשמען מפני החורבן..." The Rabbis forbade playing musical instruments and any kind of music in remembrance of the destruction of the Bet haMiqdash. With all these elements in mind we should now ask ourselves: since music is an (or "the") expression of happiness, and music is avoided in times of mourning, are we allowed to play or listen to music during these three weeks?  There are several opinions. We will explore the viewpoints of two contemporary rabbis. Tomorrow B'H we will review the opinion of rabbi Eli'ezer Melamed.