Should a woman avoid singing in front of her husband while she is a niddah?

Question

Should a woman avoid singing in front of her husband while she is a niddah? Is it strictly prohibited or just inadvisable? (Obviously I am not talking about deliberately seductive songs.)

Answer 1

Per Rabbi Shimon Eider's Sefer Hilchos Nidah a lady who is a Nidah should not sing in front of her husband.

Answer 2

Rav Ovadia Yosef (Torat HaTahara 12:54, Taharat HaBayit vol 2 pp. 167-170) permits it.

Answer 3

Rav Mordechai Eliyahu (Darchei Tahorah, 5:64) forbids it, as does the Ben Ish Chai (Second Year, Parshat Tzav, #25).

Answer 4

In Taharah Kehalocha (vol. 1 pg. 201), Rabbi Y. Farkash quotes the Chok Yaakov (OC 479:6) and Yosef Ometz (603) as well as Otzer Haposkim in the the name of other poskim who forbid the husband from listening to his niddah wife's singing. The Shevet Halevi (Shu"t 5:197:4 and Shiurim 6:2 "Vegam B'Zmiros") applies this prohibition even when there are other people singing along (see also Suga Bashoshanim 16:6-7 and Be'er Moshe there). The Minchas Yitzchok (7:70) extends this even to musical instruments if she plays them for her husband's enjoyment.

However, there are those who disagree - claiming that listening to one's niddah wife singing cannot be compared to listening to other women. They claim that gazing at parts of a women's body that are usually uncovered is certainly worse than hearing her sing, and since this is permitted when his wife is niddah (Shulchan Aruch YD 195:7), it is certainly permitted to hear her sing (Suga Bashoshanim 195:2, and Mishnas Yaakov vol. 3 pg. 117 in the name of Chemdas Moshe (58).

The Ben Ish Chai (Year 2, Parshas Tzav 25), after writing that the wife should not put the baby to sleep by singing to it when she is niddah if her husband can hear, writes that, "If the baby is crying alot and will not fall asleep any other way and there is nowhere for the husband to go - it seems that one could be lenient."

Based on the above, Rabbi Farkash concludes that although we should follow all those who are strict, in a time of difficulty where there is no other option one may be lenient.