10
votes
Is it against halacha for a woman to play a musical instrument in front of a man?
The Aruch Hashulchan (75:8) discusses the prohibition of a man hearing a woman singing, which is based on the statement of Shmuel in the Talmud (Berachot 24a)1:
קול באשה ערוה שנא' (שיר השירים ב, יד) ...
9
votes
Accepted
Wise saying in the Netflix series 'Shtisel'
Rav Avigdor Miller (Tape: Happy Is He Who Ignores) explains that the idea behind this is that one should not pay attention to such thoughts of what other think of you. Why not? Because that will "...
5
votes
Accepted
Is one allowed to go to a standup comedy show during the 3 weeks?
1) No
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: ...
4
votes
Source for story about the Maskilim's play mocking what the "orchei hamilchama" would look like according to chazal
This story is brought in the biography of R' Baruch Ber (pg. 130-131) by Rabbi Yitzchak Edelstein whose father was a student of R' Baruch Ber. He himself knew R' Baruch Ber when he was young and also ...
4
votes
Source for story about the Maskilim's play mocking what the "orchei hamilchama" would look like according to chazal
This is not really a good answer as this isn't an actual non "story" source (as requested by the question), but I'm putting this down as the text below seems to be shared in a number of places, ...
4
votes
Is it Asur to watch violent sports?
From a responsum of R. Yitzchok Abadi (Ohr Yitzchok vol. 1 YD §26) it would seem to be prohibited on the basis of an opinion in the Talmud with regards to images forbidden to gaze upon (Meg. 28a). ...
4
votes
Accepted
Is it okay for Jewish people to read Narnia or Lord of the Rings?
Most of the sources I have found address reading books or listening to music by non-Jews. Films are a different issue, because they can often be more immodest than the books they were based on. I don'...
3
votes
Accepted
Arnold Schoenberg's Survivor from Warsaw
Mr. Shoenberg most likely specified Ashkenazic pronunciation of the Hebrew because until the Holocaust, Poland/Lithuania/Eastern Europe was the center of the Ashkenazim Jewish population, and he ...
3
votes
May a Jew be an impostor on "To Tell the Truth"?
The Sources say that you may lie to
-save a life [Yoma 84b],
-keep the peace [Yevamot 65b; also Bava Metzia 87a],
-make people feel good [Ketubot 16b-17a],
-appear humble and modest [Bava ...
2
votes
What are some good sources of a cappella music for Sefiras HaOmer?
I also recommend the album 'Kol Zimra Sings the Songs of Abie Rotenberg' (I think Kol Zimra was the later version of the Beatachon group). I found myself listening to it the rest of the year as well!
2
votes
What are some good sources of a cappella music for Sefiras HaOmer?
JewishMusic.FM has a whole list of [Jewish] acappella music.
My personal recommendations from there include the Maccabeats and Lev Tahor. I'm familiar with AKA Pella, Six13, Beatachon, and the Chevra'...
2
votes
What are some good sources of a cappella music for Sefiras HaOmer?
The Maccabeats. Six13. The Ystuds are all jewish accapella groups.
2
votes
Looking for Jewish music that lifts the spirit
Here are a few options
Aaron Razel (Yonatan's brother)
Ari Goldwag
Ben Snof
Eitan Katz
Guy Tzvi Mintz
Uri Davidi
Yitzhak Meir
Yosef Karduner
If I had to pick 3 I would pick (in order) Yitzhak Meir, ...
2
votes
Accepted
Why are some movies "recommended for all women and girls"
The issue is known as "Kol Isha", "a woman's voice." See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzniut#Female_singing_voice
At face value, the Talmud indicates that a man listening to a ...
2
votes
Accepted
TV left on during Shabbat for serious reasons
From the OU's guidance on hurricane preparation, developed by Rabbi Kenneth Brander (when he was in Boca Raton).
Television or Radio
TV or radio should be left on in a side room.
A streaming ...
2
votes
Why did David’s harp playing relieve King Saul's illness?
Simcha is poretz gadarim, it breaks walls. See Tanya Ch. 5.
What this means is that, our soul has various powers and facilities, with the highest being ta'anug; delight. Delight is often synonymous ...
2
votes
Why did David’s harp playing relieve King Saul's illness?
The spirit of H' departed from Shaul and there began to terrify him an evil spirit, Ruach Raah ... 1 Samuel 16:14
"Evil spirit" specifically. So what is music exactly? It's the Berur, ...
1
vote
Accepted
Clapping in shul
This is quite fascinating. If you google "applause in shul" you will find numerous "synagogue etiquette guides" primarily from denominations other than Orthodox deprecating the ...
1
vote
Source for quote - "Wherever you look there’s something to be seen"
If we assume this isn’t a Talmudic quote, but a Jewish one:
במקום אשר ישים האדם נפשו שם ימצאנה
Quoted in Otzar Hameshalim 1270, from פניני המליצות, ה
——
This is the parallel I saw:
Wherever you ...
1
vote
Accepted
Is it against halacha for a woman to play a musical instrument in front of a man?
According to Rabbi Pesach Falk in Oz v'Hadar Lavusha (pg. 470, C5), there is no prohibition involved if the man cannot see her. Hearing her play a musical instrument involves no prohibition.
C-5. ...
1
vote
Is Smuggling Candy and Snacks Into a Movie Theater Forbidden?
It may be a chilul Hashem if someone who works there sees you trying to save money at their loss, especially if there is a no food from outside policy. He may think, “I knew it! Jews are cheap” even ...
1
vote
Movie picturing the destruction of the holy temple?
Although this video doesn't show the destruction of the mikdash, it would probably give your child more of an appreciation of what we lost on Tisha B'Av.
Similar videos can be seen here, here, and ...
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