I know that one is not allowed to listen to live music during the 3 weeks.
My question is if Standup comedy is not allowed as well?
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Sign up to join this communityI know that one is not allowed to listen to live music during the 3 weeks.
My question is if Standup comedy is not allowed as well?
R' Shlomo Aviner takes a strict approach and writes unequivocally that the answer is no (#17 from the top).
סטנדאפ בבין המצרים ש: מותר ללכת למופע סטנדאפ?
Standup during the 3 weeks: Q: Is one allowed to go to a standup show?
ת: ודאי אסור. אסור כל השנה בגלל מושב ליצים. ע"ז יח ב. קל וחומר בין המצרים
A: Definitely forbidden. [Going to a standup show is] forbidden year round because it falls under the category of "sitting with the scornful" (Avodah Zarah 18b). All the more so during the 3 weeks.
In a (Hebrew) kipa.co.il article titled "סטנדאפ בבין המצרים" - "Standup During the 3 Weeks,
R' Uziel Eliyahu writes: (translation mine)
"When Av arrives we lessen our happiness" therefore one would not be allowed to go to a standup show during the 9 days.
R' Eliyahu also notes at the end:
It's obviously preferable to postpone this until after the 3 weeks.
However in the middle part of his answer, R' Eliyahu writes:
During the 3 weeks (before Rosh Chodesh Av) one should also avoid going to a show like this. However, if a summer camp for children or a pre-arranged program or there is a special reason-- like a person who's in a state of depression or loneliness-- [said person] is certainly allowed to go to the show and this could even be a big mitzvah!!! Furthermore, if the choice is between going to this show or getting bored and the boredom leading to sinning in other ways it's certainly preferable for such a person to go to this show.
Sometimes from going to a show like this a person leaves it with chizuk since the laughter removes a person from his condition and can greatly elevates his Avodas Hashem.
R' Aviner is a hard no, and even according to R' Eliyahu of kipa.co.il in order for an allowance to be made it would really have to be an extenuating circumstance.
I think it's also safe to say that this question was asked re: Kosher standup, as non-Kosher standup is prohibited year round.
To be safe, should CYLOR.