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DonateKol Isha- A woman’s voice-Singing:[1]
The singing[2] voice of a woman is [Rabbinically[3]] an Erva.[4] This applies whether she is single[5] or married, and even towards the voice of one’s own wife[6] [even while she is pure[7]]. [This applies to woman of all ages, whether old or young, and to women of all levels of attraction.[8] Being that the singing voice of a woman is an Erva, it contains certain restrictions, such as learning Torah or Davening in its presence [Halacha A], or even simply listening to it even during non-learning/Davening times [Halacha B]. Likewise, a woman is not to sing in the presence of men in order not to make them stumble.[9]]
Voice of speech:[10] The voice of her speech is not an Erva, even if she is married.[11]
B. Learning and Davening in presence of singing:[12]
Being that the singing voice of a woman is an Erva, it is therefore [Rabbinically[13]] forbidden[14] for a man to recite Kerias Shema, or Daven, or recite words of Torah while hearing it. As stated above, this applies towards the singing voice of all women, whether single or married, and even one’s own wife. However, as stated above, the voice of her speech is not an Erva, even if she is married, and one may hence learn and Daven even while hearing her speaking voice.
If one can focus despite the singing:[15] Even by the singing voice of a woman, if one is able to concentrate on his prayer to the point that he does not even consciously hear or pay attention to her voice, then it is permitted [to learn and Daven while hearing it]. [Thus, if one hears singing and is unable to stop them, he is to strengthen his concentration and ignore the singing in order so he is able to learn/Daven.[16]]
Q&A on Davening/learning If one recited Shema or Davened Shemoneh Esrei while hearing the singing of a woman, must he repeat the prayer? Some Poskim[17] rule he fulfills his obligation and is not required to repeat the prayer.
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C. Listening to her voice when not Davening/learning:[18]
It is forbidden[19] for a man to [ever] listen [i.e. pay attention] to the [singing] voice of a woman who is an Erva [such as a married woman[20], or a Niddah, even not during times of prayer and learning]. If however the woman is single [and is not an Erva/Niddah] then it is permitted.[21] [According to all, as stated above, it is permitted to hear the voice of her speech, even if she is married. However, one may not do so with intent to benefit from it.[22]]
One’s wife:[23] It is forbidden for one to listen to his wife sing when she is in a state of Niddah. [Therefore, the wife is to avoid singing in if her husband can hear her voice.[24]] See Halacha 10!
General Q&A May a man hear a woman singing if he does not know who she is? Some Poskim[25] rule it is permitted to do so.[26] Other Poskim[27] rule it is forbidden to do so[28], and so is the practical ruling.
May a man hear a group of women, or a group of men and women, singing together? No.[29] However, some Poskim[30] are lenient in this matter. May a man listen to the recording of a woman singing, such as on an MP3 or radio?[31] Some Poskim[32] rule it is permitted to hear a woman sing through a radio or recording if he does not know what she looks like.[33] Other Poskim[34] rule it is permitted even if he knows what she looks like.[35] Other Poskim[36] rule it is forbidden to hear her voice in all cases, even if he does not know what she looks like.[37] Practically, so is the final ruling.[38] According to all, listening to a woman sing will not bring one towards fear of Heaven, and there is hence no place in the life of a Chassid to ask a Rav for a Heter in this matter. Accordingly, listening to a woman sing even through a tape or radio is to be completely negated irrelevant of the technical Halachic discussion.[39] Must a man leave or not enter an area in which a woman is singing?[40] One is not required to leave, or not enter an area that contains a woman singing. One may thus enter a bus or taxi or store even though the radio is on with a woman singing. He is however required to remove his mind from the voice and pay no attention to it. If one sees that despite his efforts it is leading him to immoral thoughts, he is to leave the area. Q&A on women singing May a woman sing if there are men present who can hear her voice?[41] No.[42]
May girls/women sing in private if their voices can be heard to the outside? Ø At an event, such as a Farbrengen, is it permitted for women to sing even though their voices can be heard to the outside? As stated above, it is forbidden for men to listen to a women’s voice of singing even if there are many women singing simultaneously, and even if he does not see the woman. It is therefore proper for women and girls to avoid singing in areas that men can hear their voices.[43] This applies even towards girls in school and the like, when singing for spiritual purposes.[44] However, some Poskim[45] rule that one cannot protest those girls who gather in private to sing as part of their spiritual education, such as the singing of Niggunim or Davening.[46] In such a case, the men are obligated to remove their minds from the women’s voices.[47] |
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[1] Admur 75:6; Michaber O.C. 75:3 and E.H. 21:1; Shmuel in Brachos 24a “The voice of a woman is an Erva”
[2] Admur ibid; Michaber ibid; Yireim 392; Rabbeinu Yona Brachos 25b
[3] Nishmas Adam 4:1; Kaf Hachaim 75:27; However, see Michaber ibid; Perisha 21:2 on Tur E.H. 21 who rules that listening to the singing of an Erva is Biblically forbidden.
[4] Admur 75:6; Michaber O.C. 75:3 and E.H. 21:1; Shmuel in Brachos 24a “The voice of a woman is an Erva”
The reason: This is learned from a verse in Shir Hashirim that states “Ki Kolecha Areiv/Because your voice is pleasant.” [Brachos ibid] From here we learn that the voice of a woman is attractive and contains a lust. [Rashi ibid]
[5] Admur ibid; M”A 75:6; Beis Shmuel E.H. 21:6 [regarding prayer]; Bear Sheva, brought in Beir Heiytiv 21:4 [regarding anytime]; Beis Oved 17; Chesed Lealafim 75:6; Ben Ish Chaiy Bo 13; Kaf Hachaim 75:21
Other opinions: Some Poskim rule that al
[6] Admur ibid; Rama 75:3; Ohel Moed 5:5; Hagahos Maimanis
[7] Pashut; Piskeiy Teshuvos 75 footnote 106
[8] Beis Oved; Ruach Chaim 75:2; Ben Ish Chaiy Bo 12-13; Kaf Hachaim 75:24
[9] See Q&A
[10] Admur ibid in understanding of Rama ibid; M”A 75:6 in name of Lechem Chamudos Brachos 3:117; Beis Shmuel 21:4; Michaber 75:3 “Kol Zemer”; Rashba, brought in Beis Shmuel ibid; Yireim 392; Rabbeinu Yona Brachos 25b; This applies even to a married woman: Admur ibid; Machatzis Hashekel on M”A ibid; Chayeh Adam 4:6
[11] The reason: As since one is accustomed to hearing her voice [and is therefore not stimulated by it] and it is therefore not an Erva. [Admur ibid; Rama ibid; Ravaya 76]
Other opinions:
[12] Admur ibid “Forbidden”; Michaber O.C. ibid “Beware”; Beis Shmuel E.H. 21:4 “Forbidden”; Rabbeinu Yona ibid regarding Davening; Yireim 392 and Mordechai Brachos Remez 80 regarding learning.
[13] Nishmas Adam 4:1; Kaf Hachaim 75:27
[14] Forbidden or only Lechatchila should avoid? Some Poskim rule it is forbidden from the letter of the law. [Darkei Moshe 75:3] Other Poskim rule that it is merely initially to be avoided. [Michaber ibid; Beis Yosef 75 “Proper to be careful”; P”M 75 A”A 6 writes the Rama in 75:3 rules like the Michaber, unlike his ruling in Darkei Moshe; Kaf Hachaim 75:25] Admur ibid rules like the Darkei Moshe that it is forbidden. The practical ramification is in a case of Bedieved, that one Davened while hearing her voice, and whether one must repeat the prayer. [P”M 75 A”A 6]
[15] Admur ibid; Olas Tamid 75:5; Rabbeinu Yona ibid; Kitzur SHU”A 5:16; Kaf Hachaim 75:26; See Beis Yosef 76
[16] Kitzur SHU”A ibid; Kaf Hachaim ibid
[17] P”M 75 A”A 6 based on Michaber 75:3 who rules one is merely to “beware” against Davening while hearing singing and does not write it is forbidden to do so; The Rama does not argue on this statement of the Michaber, even though he does in Darkei Moshe 75:3
[18] Michaber E.H. 21:1; M”A 75:6 in name of Lechem Chamudos Brachos 3:117; Admur 75:6 as well as the other Poskim in 75 do not deal with whether one may listen to a woman’s voice during other times, and the law is only in reference to Davening/learning.
[19] Biblical or Rabbinical: According to some Poskim, the singing voice of an Erva is Biblically forbidden for a man to listen to. [Implication of Michaber ibid; Perisha 21:2 on Tur E.H. 21] Other Poskim however rule it is only Rabbinically forbidden. [Nishmas Adam 4:1; Kaf Hachaim 75:27]
[20] M”A ibid
[21] Beis Shmuel ibid; Implication of M”A ibid in name of Lechem Chamudos
Other opinions: Some Poskim rule it is forbidden to hear the singing voice of a single girl [who is not an Erva]. [Bear Sheva, brought in Beir Heiytiv 21:4]
[22] Chayeh Adam 4:6
[23] Pischeiy Teshuvah 195:10; Kitzur SH”A 153:10; Lechem Visimla 195:20; Kitzur Dinei Taharah 3:3; Shiureiy Sheivet Halevi p. 264; Sheivet Halevi 5:176
[24] Beir Sheva p. 119, brought in Kaf Hachaim 75:23; Elya Raba 75:5; Shaar Hatziyon 560:25; Piskeiy Teshuvos 75:12
[25] Beis Shearim 53; One way of learning Maharam Shick E.H. 53
[26] The reason: As the Yetzer Hara only has a lust towards that what he sees. [Poskim ibid]
[27] Peri Hasadeh 3:32; Ohel Moshe 1:32; Birchas Chaim 21; Birchas Shamayim 30; Poskim in Otzer Haposkim 21; Yaskil Avdi 5:12; Chelkas Yaakov 1:30 and 163; Minchas Yitzchak 7:70; Shevet Halevi 3:181; 5:197-3; Az Nidbaru 9:59; Rav SZ”A in Halichos Shlomo 20:12
[28] The reason: As one is not allowed to hear a woman’s voice even if he does not know her identity, as the rule that the Yetzer Hara only has a lust towards that which he sees was said only regarding future erotic thoughts, however at the time of the hearing of the sound, it certainly has erotic thoughts. [Poskim ibid]
[29] Be’er Sheva Kuntrus Ber Mayim Chaim 3; Be’er Yehuda on Sefer Chassidim L.S. 3; Suga Beshoshanim 16:6-7; Shevet Halevi 5:197-4; Shiureiy Shevet Halevi 6:2; Taharah Kehalacha 14:24; Halichos Bas Yisrael 6:11
[30] Chasam Sofer O.C. Shaar Taharas Hayadayim 14 based on Shoftim 5 that Devoira and Barak sang together the Shira
[31] See Sichas Parshas Balak 7th Tamuz 1984 [Hisvadyus 1984 3:2124, printed in Shulchan Menachem 6:75]; Ohel Yaakov p. 205; Nitei Gavriel Yichud 54:11; Piskeiy Teshuvos 75 footnote 20
[32] Beis Shearim 33; One way of learning Maharam Shick E.H. 53
[33] The reason: As one is allowed to hear a woman’s voice if he does not know her identity, as the Yetzer Hara only has a lust towards that which he sees. [Beis Shearim 33; One way of learning Maharam Shick E.H. 53]
[34] Tzitz Eliezer 5:2; Yabia Omer 1:6; Rav Elyashiv, brought in Ohel Yaakov ibid
[35] The reason: As a radio sound and recording is not her real voice but a mechanical voice. [Poskim ibid]
[36] Peri Hasadeh 3:32; Ohel Moshe 1:32; Birchas Chaim 21; Birchas Shamayim 30; Poskim in Otzer Haposkim 21; Yaskil Avdi 5:12; Chelkas Yaakov 1:30 and 163; Minchas Yitzchak 7:70; Shevet Halevi 3:181; 5:197-3; Az Nidbaru 9:59; Rav SZ”A in Halichos Shlomo 20:12
[37] The reason: As one is not allowed to hear a woman’s voice even if he does not know her identity, as the rule that the Yetzer Hara only has a lust towards that which he sees was said only regarding future erotic thoughts, however at the time of the hearing of the sound, it certainly has erotic thoughts. Likewise, although the recorded sound is not the true voice, since it is similar and can bring to erotic thoughts there is therefore no reason to differentiate. [Poskim ibid]
[38] Nitei Gavriel Yichud 54:11 in name of Poskim ibid
[39] Rebbe ibid
[40] See Sdei Chemed Kelalim Mareches Kuf 42; Ohel Yaakov 76 [p. 203] in name of Poskim; See Admur 75:6 based on previous Poskim “Even by the singing voice of a woman, if one is able to concentrate on his prayer to the point that he does not even consciously hear or pay attention to her voice, then it is permitted [to learn and Daven while hearing it].” And certainly, it is permitted to be in the area.
[41] Be’er Sheva p. 119, brought in Kaf Hachaim 75:23; Elya Raba 75:5; Shaar Hatziyon 560:25; Piskeiy Teshuvos 75:12
[42] Although the verse states that Devorah and Barak sang together, nevertheless, this is different being it was done as result of Hashem’s command. [Elya Raba ibid]
[43] Be’er Sheva p. 119, brought in Kaf Hachaim 75:23; Elya Raba 75:5; Shaar Hatziyon 560:25; Shevet Halevi 5:197-4; Halichos Bas Yisrael 6:6; Piskeiy Teshuvos 75:12; see Beis Avi 3:32
[44] Shevet Halevi ibid
[45] Beis Avi 3:32; Ishei Yisrael 55:29 in name of Rav Elyashiv, brought in Piskeiy Teshuvos 75 footnote 125; Halichos Bas Yisrael ibid footnote 12 brings in name of Rav SZ”A that girls may be lenient to sing on a bus with separate compartments if the male bus driver cannot see them.
[46] The reason: As perhaps singing out of service of G-d does not bring immoral thoughts, as was seen with Miriam and the women who sang Shiras Hayam. [Beis Avi ibid]
[47] Ishei Yisrael ibid
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