Jerusalem – There are a number of questions that people ask regarding listening to music during the Sefira period. As we know, during much of the Sefira period – the custom is not to listen to music – even recorded music, on account of the fact that it is a period of public mourning. Although the Shulchan Aruch only discusses the issues of haircuts and weddings, Rav Moshe Feinstein zatzal stated in clear terms that music should not be listened to during this time. The questions are quite varied:
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“May I listen Acapella music?”
“I need music to exercise effectively – may I do so?”
This author posed these questions to HaGaon HaRav Moshe Sternbuch who responded on Wednesday that, indeed, one may listen to music when one exercises if the purpose that one is listening to it is to exercise and not for general enjoyment purposes. This leniency applies not just to Acappella music but to regular recorded music with instruments.
However, in regard to Acapella music – not during exercise, Rav Shternbuch stated that listening to it is forbidden. This is the same position that Rav Elyashiv issued a number of years ago. The rationale seems to be that the tape recorder itself can be considered a musical instrument. Even though the music does not contain sounds that emanate from a musical instrument – the tape recorder itself is the instrument and is in reality no different than a guitar, piano, or a synthetic keyboard.
Rav Shternbuch is the Vice President of the Eida Chareidis in Jerusalem. He is also the author of the acclaimed series “Moadim VeZmanim” on Jewish holidays, the responsa series entitled “Teshuvos VeHanhagos”, and the commentary entitled “Tuv Taam VaDaas” on Chumash. He is a student of the Chazon Ish. Rav Shternbuch lives in Har Nof.
acapella nowadays sounds more like music than actual music!
What is Acapella?
R’ Reuven Bengis zt”l paskened that you may listen to a recording of a woman singing.
Electronic keyboards and recordings are NOT the same as live musical instruments. It is ossur to have a bona fide musical instrument at home. Orach Chaim, end of Hilchos Tisha B’Av.
is it permited on rosh chodesh.
“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
–Nietzsche
I like the psak a Baal Teshuva was given re rock music…the Rav (I know who it was) said it’s OK to listen to it because it’s not music. I’m getting really tempted…..
What a watse of time!!
He needs music to exercise?
It is NOT permitted on Rosh Chodesh!
Say what you want but the picture is priceless
Here’s the million dollar question that nobody thought of yet:
If, in fact, “acapella music…is forbidden….” because “the tape recorder itself can be considered a musical instrument….and is in reality no different than a guitar, piano, or a synthetic keyboard”, then using this logic, listening to a Daf Yomi shiur via tape recorder would be forbidden as well, since although the voice emanating is not music, the tape recorder playing the Daf Yomi is in itself a musical instrument and no different than a piano, etc.
My rav paskens like the Shulchan Aruch.
Is this picture permitted even in Purem?
But we all agree that one must wear tzitzis during the day?
Maybe not….
But the picture of the guy which is priceless shows him without tzitzis, no?
Just remember you can’t accept just a half of the psak. If you want to listen to excercise music, NO NO acapella music
how about music in a rstaurant?
If you look at the photo carefully, this guy looks like he is recovering from open heart surgery so please don’t comment on his appearence or concentration. All cardiac surgery patients should be so attentive to getting exercise without having to worry about the music during sefira or whether or not they should be wearing a tallis katan.
Where does it say in the Shulchan Aruch that music is prohibited during Sefira?
the guy in the picture roks with – classic hendrix according to the psak above. and
no tzizis because he didn’t have arba kanfois and
his payois where dancing to the mitzva of ushmartem lenafshoisaichem
like the tzizis od the Baal shem tov would dance on their own
and daf yomoim on ipod is better than cheap taperecorder less of a shailo
“But we all agree that one must wear tzitzis during the day?”
No, we don’t.
Unless you wish to wear a four cornered garment that is, which this guy isn’t.
I don’t care if he’s a man, he needs at least a t-shirt on.
Hacham Ovadia Yosef Shlit”a poskens lienently like most Ashkenazi rabanim that recorded acapella music, nigunim, also bakashot and chanted tehilim are fine. Moreover, during a seudat misva, even live music is permitted. Although the shulchan aruch makes no mention of this practice, according to Rav Eli Mansour, we have accepted on ourselves as Jews to refrain from music during this period.
#29 and #30
You made my day. Thanks. Hilarious!
#19 . look up in safer yosaf lakach from hagoan r’ yosef angel ztz”l (rava”d kroka)in mamer mitzvas tzrichas kavonah. that if tzitzas is bothering al pi halocha you don’t havev to wear tzitzis and even he has a whole chakirah if he gets schar by wearing tztzis
Part 1.
I think I have a valid opinion, but first who a bit about me.
I am involved in the music industry for over 20 years.
I am familiar with every style and genre of music going back to the 70’s
Recently I heard a CD from one of these acapella groups and I was very troubled. While it definitely does not lack talent, you cannot use this type of music for Sefira. I am real sorry but this is “Gekasherta chazer fislach”. You are listening to voices that were electronically sampled into keyboards and drumpads that sound very real and lively beats but the worse thing is that every other intro and mix has the worse elements of rap and other junk in it. Sure, lady gaga might be a good riff but to use that idea and rhythm on a recording intended to replace regular music in a time period where we are supposed to mourn 24,000 deaths is beyond gall. And don’t tell me this was not a serious album but just a parody, cause some of the songs there are beautiful slow renditions.
Part 2
As for the ruling on accapella, I am not sure the writer of the article translated correctly.
You see, IMHO, live “hartzig” acapella by a simcha is fine during Sefira, so there should be no problem if this was listened to on a CD. And this is most likely the only form permissible. If this makes you sad then, hey that’s the point. If you have a particular case where there is a patient (sick or depressed) who must be uplifted, I am sure there is a heter to listen to regular music.
Now many people may ask “How do I know what your definition of “hartzig” is?”
In morality there is a very succinct phrase that goes like this…
“If you would do what you’re doing while your wife/husband was standing next to you, then you are probably not cheating”. So I would say the same here, If you would feel comfortable listening to this particular piece of acappela music while your Rav was next to you, then it’s probably fine.
1) The mushnah Berurah clearly states that “Rekudin Imcholos” are forbidden so music is forbidden and he makes no exception to exercise. Besides music is forbidden all year round when one eats or goes to sleep, because of the churban.
2) Rosh Chodesh is forbidden (to listen to music) as well, very clearly stated in shulchan Aruch.
Wow, this is great news! Now I can do my 3-4 mile runs much easier. Was very difficult without the music.
the issur of live music is clearly stated in the oruch hashulchan
R’ Moshe Feinstein says explicitly in a t’shuva in IGM that recorded acapella music does not have the status of instrumental music. Personally, I don’t see the need to be machmir in a dispute among poskim about something that is not more than a minhag, but to each his own. What’s strange about this post is that RMF is cited in support of the notion that you can’t listen to music with no reference to the fact that he didn’t agree with the subsequent claims in the post.
[PS: this applies to legitimate acapella – I agree with post #42 that digitally altered acapella is not acapella.]
So, no acapella? Why are we allowed to hear other people singing, then? What happens if we enjoy that?
So, I guess if you miss music so much during sefira, then those who have not been exercising – take care of your health – exercise and enjoy, I guess, right?
I heard from a rav that is no longer alive, a yerei shamaim and ehrliche yid who used to listen to music during sefira, who said that there is no prohibition against listening to music during sefira. He said that based on shulchan aruch, music is not permitted year round but if it is a well-founded minhag to be maikel and listen during the rest of the year then there is no reason to be machmir on sefira.
If the issue with acapella is that a tape recirder is considered a “musical instrument”, then i wuld assume “live a-capella” should be fine
the latest Acappella CD that just came out sounds more like lady gagga !!!!!!!!!!!!
Re; to # 3. Thanks for not quoting Mei Kampf,as a rebuttal . Dumkop !
I can not qoute a halachic text but I can tell you what I perosnally participated in and witnessed.
After the Yom Kippur war the Bnei Akiva youth movement had a internationa confrence in Jerusalem.
Iwas part of a chorus that had both men and women who performed,
No woman sang a solo.There was one point where 3-4 women sang togethjer useing a microphone.
Sitting in the front row in the place of honor were the Rishon Ltziyon Ovadia yossef and Cheif Ashkenazic Rabbi Goren.
they were approached in advance and told of the program and they ha dno probllem with it.
We also had musical intruments accompnaying us in Jerusalem.
I think this guy has enough koach to run the marathon!
Or how about joining Yoely Witrol in the NYC police department – they need people with lots of koach like this guy to run after the bad guys.
B”H my Rov has his head on straight, and is not Mikabel any of these heterim. In fact my Rov is an absolute genious. A Gaon Otzum. Mamesh an Iluy. Whatever you ask him-ANY Shailo at all- the answer is IT’S OSSUR! So there! My Rov is the BEST.
Incidentally, regarding music on elevators, my Rov paskens that you may not get into an elevator that is playing music during sefira. Furthermore, even if it is not playing music now, you may not get onto an elevator that does not have an escape hatch in the ceiling, in case the music were to start once the doors closed. Obviously, in such a case you would have to climb up and out.
I’m shocked nobody has mentioned the obvious here – isn’t exercise assur all year round? 🙂
which albim sounds like lady gaga I want it