I read Igros Moshe forbids listening to music with idolatrous intent. What are some sources, if any, that allow listening to, or playing/performing Christian classical music, such as Bach's or Handel's oratorios? And what about Christian music without words, or words exclusively from Tanach?
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shulchanaruchharav.com/halacha/…– ChatzkelJun 3 at 11:24
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Ty. Anyone giving other sources would also be greatly appreciated. Maybe it's not the best translation, but it seems very contradictory. It first says one must not listen to music composed for idolatry, and then near the bottom implies that Christian classical music can be listened to.– DovidJun 3 at 12:50
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1Welcome to MiYodeya Dovid and thanks for this first question. Great to have you learn with us!– mblochJun 6 at 3:19
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My wife is a former Christian. She was shocked how much Ashkenazi music is just Christian music but slightly altered and with different words. Sepharadim also borrowed local Arab hits and incorporated it into their liturgy. I can only imagine these halakhot forbidding Christian music is a response to seeing how much appropriation has already happened and is an attempt to stop the flow– AaronJun 6 at 17:45
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@Aaron not sure how true this story is but here it goes, the Rebbe of Ropshitz (or so I remember) said that after the destruction of the בית המקדש the leviyims Shira was disbursed between other nations but they are still holy and that is why some of them found there way back to the Jewish kehillos– YoreinuJun 8 at 11:30