[Avodah] Is having a good time ossur

[Richard Wolpoe]

On Fri, Apr 4, 2008 at 2:47 PM, Micha Berger <micha at aishdas.org> wrote:

>
>
> Music for the sake of music is more problematic. Not in and of itself;
> you're "speaking" with a fan of Baroque and Rhennaisance music, as well
> as some of New Age (if it isn't too muzak-y) and lately (I guess I'm
> getting older) some forms of Klezmer and Jazz. - Micha
>

I am really puzzled by any issur of listening to music that 'soothes the
soul" even during aveilus.   AISI, the issur of music during aveilus is the
kind of music that inspires one to get up and dance.   The kind of music
[say the Goldberg variations] which were meant to help soothe an insomniac
is to me just like taking a form of "spiritual" medication. It's not for
enjoyment but for relaxation.

For a Tanach source see what Davdi did for Shaul, he soothed his Ruach Ra'a
[depression perhaps?].  Music as a therapy might be the spiritual
counterpart to a physical massage.

Music for partying OTOH is  different.

I must confess legabi Sefirah the Aruch Hshulcan sees this as the opposite.
If dancing music is assur, instrumental music all the more so!  WADR, I
disagree.  The tachlis can be quite different.  AISI, dancing music would be
assur during Sefirah, but passively listening to "soothing" instrumentals
would not be assur.

I have heard besheim RYBS that only music that caused one to get up and
dance [lich'ora even if one did not actually dance!] was the kind of music
that is assur.  This dovetails well with what I'm saying. I would suspect
that our esteemed moderator might also concur with this chiluk



-- 
Kol Tuv / Best Regards,
RabbiRichWolpoe at Gmail.com
see: http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/
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