[Avodah] Rav Menashe Klein - Is It Assur To Watch A Woman Play A Musical Instrument?

[Prof. Levine]

 From http://revach.net/article.php?id=4884

It is assur to listen to a woman sing, since Kol B'Isha Erva. What 
about listening to her playing a musical instrument, is that 
considered Kol Isha? Rav Menashe Klein says (Mishneh Halachos 6:25) 
that it is not, and only her actual voice is an erva.

However says Rav Klein, while Kol Isha is not a problem there are 
other issurim involved that are quite possibly severe. The gemara 
(Eiruvin 18b) says that a person may not walk behind a woman even his 
own wife. The Radvaz (770) says that this applies even if she is 
dressed in a perfectly modest manner. The reason is that by watching 
her body movements you are inciting the Yetzer Hara, which will cause 
you harm. The forbidden distance is not limited to four amos, but any 
distance where you can make out her movements.

Rav Klein says that we see from here that it is assur to focus on the 
movements of a woman, even your own wife and certainly if she is a 
niddah. When it comes to watching a woman play an instrument where 
you are mesmerized by her movements and her performance, although it 
is not Kol Isha, it is certainly assur and maybe even more severe 
than Kol Isha, and this goes into the category of Abizraihu D'Giluy Arayos.

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