[Avodah] Kol Isha - HETER

[rabbirichwolpoe at gmail.com]

I will review some s'varos here w/o regard to sources
The A's are strict
The B's are lenient

Questions:

1 Is it OK to look at married women's hair in our society?
A NO it is erva
B YES we have been desensitized so no harm

2 Is it OK to hear a female voice via radio or recording?
A NO it is kol Isha erva
B Yes we have been desensitized to recorded voices - [unless the song
  itself is suggestive]

3 May we view a "scantily clad" woman?
A No. It's viewing erva
B ?? Probably assur

4 May we view a woman singer singing live
A NO it's kol isha erva
B depends
  If we she is dressed properly 
      YES because we are desenstized [EG Kathy Lee Gifford]
  If not
      No if it's like Britney Spears

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FWIW when I was young I was told in Day School that is was due to the
un-tz'nius nature of women singer-entertainers that was the issue. I
don't know how grounded that was in posqim, but they felt that "opera"
when the women were properly attired were "more or less ok"

KT
RRW
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