Re: Welcome to the Three Weeks

[Alex Jacobowitz <Alex_Jacobowitz...>]

B"H Luzern, Switzerland

Does this mean that we are allowed to listen to music that we don't like?
>Depends. Passive or active listening are different. Are you allowed to
hear Muzak
on the elevator up to your apartment? Yes, as long as you receive no
"benefit"
from it. Are you allowed to go to a Michael Jackson concert? What do YOU
think, Eric?

If a musician plays something that he likes is he allowed to enjoy himself
>if s/he's playing for professional ($$$) reasons, yes. For fun, no.

or would it be better to play badly so that there is no chance for the
player to enjoy making music.
>you mean like breaking the glass at a wedding, to remind ourselves of the
Destruction even at a happy event? Yes, it's a praiseworthy action to
remind oneself
through thought, word and deed.

 Or would it be better if he just doesn't listen to himself, or his musical
collaborators??
>remember that the operative word here was "profession". If s/he's playing
to make his/her
living, it would be a Mitzva to play as well as possible, to do a Kiddush
HaShem -- but
not for Jewish audiences.

Remember musicians, entertainers and ball players are the only
professionals that talk about play rather than work.
>Nu?

Alex Jacobowitz