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Is it allowed for a Jew to whistle? If yes, is it even allowed on Shabbos? If no, why not? Has anyone ever heard that if one whistles at night, that it attracts sheidim and mazikin?

And what are the sources for any answer.

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Depends on whether you follow Askanaz or Sefard...So to put it another way, anytime we're asked this question (and many others as well), we should include the comment about the different nusachim. -- Many people forget this issue and just say "yes" or "no" on questions that vary. – Larry K Aug 16 '12 at 14:10
I found an anonymous essay printed in several small newspapers around 1887 which talked about how whistling is simply "the noise which proceeds from a vacant mind." In it the writer makes a seemingly stereotypical observation about Jews: "The whistle shows a vacant mind in its solitary state....Did you ever notice that Jews don't whistle much? They haven't got much vacant mind. When it isn't needed in their own businesses, they rent it to other businesses." – Bruce James Jan 15 at 22:31

6 Answers

up vote 10 down vote

There are videos of the Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraging whistling by his farbrengens.

Edited to add some great links from the comments into the answer, as well as other sources:

Here is a picture of the Rebbe's often-used hand motion to signal for whistling. enter image description here

Here is a link to a first-hand account of the Rebbe encouraging someone to sing, along with a picture of the Rebbe giving the signal to whistle.

Here is a link to a video that includes many people whistling while the Rebbe urges them on, but no actual prompting from the Rebbe is shown. (Skip to the middle for the whistling).

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Please link to these. He is likely the most recorded Jewish figure. – Tzvi Oct 8 '10 at 17:25
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Here's one: chabad.org/therebbe/livingtorah/player_cdo/aid/65253/jewish/… (at the farbrengen/Kos Shel Berachah distribution of Motzaei Shabbos following Rosh Hashanah, 3 Tishrei 5748). Also, here's an earlier personal recollection, from Purim 5731/1971: chabad.org/therebbe/article_cdo/aid/1116/jewish/… – Alex Nov 26 '10 at 6:14
here's a translation of the sicha the Rebbe spoke about whistling, as well as background information (read the posts from Jude): chabadtalk.com/forum/showthread.php3?t=3844 – Menachem Nov 7 '11 at 5:50
up vote 6 down vote

It says clearly in Hilchos Shabbos that it is Muttar (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 337/8). I don't know of anybody who argues.

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up vote 5 down vote

I had a high-school rebbe (sophisticated in both Jewish and worldly matters, by the way) who was very against whistling at any time, because he had learned from his rebbe (I forget who, unfortunately) that it would attract demons. He would say in Yiddish "Yidden fife nisht," or "Jews don't whistle." I don't remember him distinguishing between night and day.

After he'd told us that, I was once absentmindedly whistling in his presence, and he turned white and asked me to stop.

Sorry, I don't have any sources for you.

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1  
My brother-in-law, who I'm certain went to no Jewish school other than cheder, seems to have learned this belief from his parents and has quoted me that exact Yiddish expreession. – Bruce James Jan 14 at 22:29
up vote 3 down vote

It is Muttar on Shabbos.

For more Info see here: http://dailyhalacharabbimansour.blogspot.com/2009_01_25_archive.html#1377934357858671855 (scroll to "Using a Doorknocker, Clapping, Banging and Whistling on Shabbat")

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And see here seems we share some stuff with other religions everything2.com/user/KalEl/writeups/Superstition – SimchasTorah Apr 9 '10 at 21:11
The link you have there is dead... do you have another source? – Naftali Jun 1 '12 at 18:52
up vote 3 down vote

There is a full answer here (#420): http://halachafortoday.com/questions-answers/qa9/

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After seeing this and the blog post about the eastern religions I think it is plain to see this is without any6 Legitimacy. – SimchasTorah Apr 9 '10 at 21:22
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Just because another religion believes something does not mean our belief in it is not legitimate if it is based on a mesorah. – Yahu Apr 12 '10 at 20:44
Be more Midayik I said "After seeing this and the blog post about the eastern religions" I meant the combination of the 2" – SimchasTorah Apr 12 '10 at 22:20
up vote 1 down vote

For Sephardim: Allowed on Shabbat and other days, but not in public.

Source: Daily Halacha by R. Eli Mansour says

The Halachic authorities rule that whistling was not included at all in the decree against producing sounds on Shabbat, and one may thus whistle a tune on Shabbat. We should note that irrespective of the laws of Shabbat, whistling in public, such as while walking in the street, is improper and unbecoming of a Torah Jew. But if at home one wishes to whistle as background to the singing of Pizmonim (hymns) at the Shabbat table, this is certainly acceptable and permissible.

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You might clarify your first sentence's "in public" the way Rabbi Mansour does ("such as while walking in the street"): after all, he explicitly allows "at the Shabbat table" and doesn't specify no quests are around. – msh210♦ Aug 16 '12 at 21:54

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