[Avodah] Is it ossur to have fun?

[Richard Wolpoe]

On Mon, Apr 7, 2008 at 2:46 PM, Jonathan Baker <jjbaker at panix.com> wrote:

> From: "Richard Wolpoe" <rabbirichwolpoe at gmail.com>
> > 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.
>
> > 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
>
> > 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.
>
> Hm.  I wonder if part of the difference is the social aspect?
>        name: jon baker
>


RYBS makes the issue one of simcha meireiu's. This is a big chidush/shinuy
from the gmara which construes this as simply reciprocal meals [see elu
mgalchin]



>
> That is, before recorded music, if you wanted to listen to music,
> you had to go someplace where musicians were playing: in the shuk
> for money, at a wedding, at a concert (if our Acharonim went to
> public concerts, as some are reputed to have been aficionadi of
> the opera).  All those occasions have a social-lebedig aspect.


My read is simple. If the music is an aspect of partying [such as with a
s'udas eirusin] i COULD be problematic

OTOH if it is simply  for relaxation it is not for "joy" and therefore OK

I discussed this hilluk with Rabbi E. Kanarfogel today at lucnh


   1. He was not sure how the Rav got simha meirius as a Halchic norm
   into aveilus from the Gmara
   2. He thought my hilluk made sense [albet I am not saying he endorsed
   it for p'sak]
   3. He would stil follow th Rav's take of private vs. public listening
   4. Therefore R Kanarfoelg would have a probme attending a live Bach
   concert I see no concern - but if someone brought a guitar for  kumsitz we
   would both have problems


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