[HANASHIR:14861] KOL ISHA: "Pop Bands Whose Beat Is Orthodox and Hip"

[Robbi Sherwin <sherwin...>]

>From Rahel:
I could go on - but I really 
> would like to mention TOFA'AH - of which I was a member for 15 years. All 
> woman's orthodox band - music by women for women because they follow the 
> halachah of "kol isha" - still going strong and still living in Israel!
>
A query for the group.  "Kol Isha" - voice of the woman - is a prohibition
for orthodox men against  listening to the voice (usually defined as
singing voice)  of a woman (other than their wife) because the woman's
voice is seductive. I do not believe it is "halacha" -  law -  but rather,
customs of the individual communities, rebbes they follow, etc. If there is
indeed Jewish law which mandates Kol Isha, I would love to learn the
source.  Please enlighten!

By the way, in all the touring and concerts I do, by far my favorite in
Israel is an all-women's concert in Jerusalem. I've done this 3 times now
and it's a blast!   I've also been cut (at the last minute) from concerts
and programs, when they realized that "Robbi" was a girl's name, not a male
name. It's not my issue, and I no longer take personal offense. (And they
have to pay me anyway, according to the contract, in which I now state
clearly that I am a female).Shirona, little sis' - are you out there?

Robbi Sherwin
Austin, Texas  


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