[HANASHIR:14863] Re: KOL ISHA: 'Pop Bands Whose Beat Is Orthodox and Hip'

[Sholom Simon <sholom...>]

> I do not believe it is "halacha" -  law -  but rather,
> customs of the individual communities, rebbes they follow, etc.

It is halacha, and there are sources that go back to the Gemara (Berachot
24a) , and it is codified in the Shulchan Arukh.

Perhaps what you are referring to, above, is that there are some rabbis
who rule that, nowadays, men are so used to women's voices that there is
no problem.  Many major poskim (Rav Yehuda Henkin, e.g.) reject this line
of thought.

However, there is more varied opinion on the _scope_ of the kol isha
prohibition.  Some poskim permit a group of men and women singing Zemirot
together.  There is also varied opinions regarding listening to recordings
or broadcasts.

(The above is a very short summary of
<http://www.koltorah.org/ravj/The%20Parameters%20of%20Kol%20Isha.htm>)

>>>
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).
>>>

I commend you on the above.  Many find it hard to de-personalize it, but
you are able, too.  Yasher Koach.

> The interesting think about halacha is that in a halachic community,
> minhag  (custom) becomes halacha (Jewish law) over time.

> There are many examples I could bring.  One is kippah for men.

Another is ma'ariv!  The entire third prayer service of the day.  It was
not originally an obligation, but as k'lal yisroel has now "accepted it
upon ourselves", it is now a halachic obligation.

> So, to get back to your original question, the prohibition to hear "kol
> isha"  a women's voice

... stems from halacha, not a custom.

-- Sholom



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