Inconsiderate gentile neighbor listening to loud music on Shabbat

Question

Suppose an inconsiderate gentile neighbor were listening to music at a fairly high volume on Shabbat, to the point that you could hear it on your own property. Would one be permitted to:

A) directly ask the neighbor to turn the music down (or would this be a forbidden form of requesting melacha for one's own benefit?)

Or

B) enjoy a song which one happened to like when it came on (assuming the gentile is listening for his own pleasure and there is no input whatsoever from the Jewish neighbor regarding the whether music will be played at all, let alone the playlist)?

Answer 1

Amira Liakum (asking a non jew to do a melacha)is only prohibited in two types of cases.

1) Where you get a positive benefits and he did it for you. By positive I mean If it's causing a new source of pleasure (he turned on the TV) that would be assur. But taking a way a source of discomfort is not considered a benefit here.

2)You asked him to do the melacha even if you don't benefot at all. (source: 39 melachos book. I don't remember it's source.)

So since you asked him at first glance this is assur. However if one holds electricity is assur because of Molid (Like rabbi henkin and therefore is Drabbunun), when you ask a non jew (which is assur drabbunun) to do a Drabbunun it is whats called a shvus dshvus and is permitted for a sick person, a mitzvah, or a "great need" (Source 39 melachos book and Rambam. And yes "great need" is very vague). So in this case the person should especially ask their rabbi whether this is considered a "great need" or even a "sick person". If one holds electricity is assur Draaysa then no you can't ask. You could send a child over to ask I think or hint to him.

In regards to listening to music, you didn't ask him to turn it on and he did it for himself so it's not assur from Amira Lakum. Seemingly this would be no different than if you left music on from before shabbos and bring up questions of Uvdin dchol.

Answer 2

1. The original prohibition of Amirah leNochri is an "extension" to preventing oneself from doing a Melachah. As in your case, there's no fear of one actively doing a Melacha in his neighbor's house, therefore it is permitted to ask a Nochri to do something in his house.

2. If you still fear that it could be an extension of Amirah leNochri, you can knock on his door and talk to him quietly, saying "I can't hear you!" to force him to lower the volume to himself and further asking not to make it louder.

3. Alternatively, an underage kid can be sent over to ask.

B. Enjoying a song that you hear anyway is surely permitted, as long as there're no secondary prohibitions, like מראית עין (if you get closer on purpose, or enter his house, or dance) or עובדין דחול (that can make you think it's a weekday and you'll come to change the track or the like).