[HANASHIR:8241] Re: Some more Kol Isha clarification

[Carol Boyd Leon <cbleon...>]

Dear Rachel,
Thank you for your research and explanation of Kol Isha.  What I don't yet 
understand is why some Orthodox men will not even listen to a recording made 
by a woman.  (This was told to me by an Orthodox rabbi.)  Since the singer 
and the listener are not physically in the same place at the same time and 
it's likely never will be, there doesn't appear to be any "danger" to the 
man.  Anyone have an explanation?  Thanks.
-- Carol Boyd Leon, Burke VA

>Now, I know that many of us on this list will find this kind of theology 
>abhorrent - I certainly do, and feel no need to observe it in any way.  
>*However*, it would appear that the Mishna Brurah (a commentary on the 
>Shulchan Aruch) explains that the halacha on Kol Isha is *not* to do with 
>the fact that men shouldn't be aroused by women, or that women shouldn't be 
>heard, per se, but that, *if* a man who hears the beautiful voice of a 
>woman (which implicitly recognises the beauty of women's voices) and *if* 
>it arouses him, he may be tempted to approach her, flirt with her, and who 
>knows where that might lead... etc,  AND *if* she was in niddah at the 
>time, then the man would be in danger of contravening more central halachah 
>that could have severe consequences for his life
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com

------------------------ hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org -----------------------+