Reply To: Zecher LaChurban

From YWN Archives:

Al Naros Bavel

As a remembrance of the churban the poskim write that one should recite al naros bavel before bentching during the week, on days that tachnun is recited. The reason for saying this tefilla is to worry about the churban each seuda that one washes. The minhag seems to be that people are careful to say al naros bavel during the nine days, but do not say it the rest of the year. It is unclear what the basis for this custom is.

Amah by Amah

Where to Place the Amah by Amah

Each Room

What to do?

One who puts up wallpaper (and does not paint) is also obligated to leave a part of the wall unfinished.

Buying a House from a Goy

Bought from a Yid

Investment Property

One is not required to make an amah by amah in a house which is purchased for investment purposes.

Shul / Bais Medrash

Yeshiva

Yerushalayim

Bungalow/ Summer Home

Wedding Hall

Wedding

Ashes on the Forehead

Breaking a Glass under the Chupah

Crowns

Wearing Less Jewelry

Less of a Meal

Practicing a Musical Instrument

One is permitted to listen to music for the sake of learning a trade.

For Children

One is permitted to sing a song to help a child go to sleep because we rely on the opinion that singing is only forbidden if accompanied with wine (without food). However, one should not sing songs which are not proper for the children (such as certain lullabies).

Recorded Music

There is a discussion in the poskim if the issur applies only to live music or also recorded music. Some poskim maintain since recorded music was not around when chazal made the issur it was not included. Many argue with this premise. Others say if one records his voice it is considered vocal music and if one records musical instruments it is viewed as instrumental music. Those who are lenient in regard to recorded music are also lenient as far as music on the radio. According to all opinions one is permitted to listen to the music that emits from his cell phone when receiving a call.

Listening to Tapes of Jewish Music

Today the custom is to be lenient and listen to music for the following reasons: 1. Musical instruments are only forbidden if accompanied by wine. 2. One who is down and out may use the music to lift his spirits. 3. Perhaps the issur never applied to recorded music. 4. Many say the issur only applies to listening on a constant basis.

Driving a Car

One who is driving a car may listen to music (even for long periods of time) if one is doing so to stay awake while driving.

Weddings and Seudas Mitzvah

The Music Ban in Yerushalayim

In 1865 a general ban was issued in Yerushalayim against playing music at weddings, and only one instrument was permitted to play. Many poskim discuss if recorded music or electric synthesizers may be used at a wedding in Yerushalayim. The consensus is to be stringent. A chosson and kallah who live outside Yerushalayim and have their wedding in Yerushalayim should not be lenient and have a band without asking a sheilah first. The ban seems to apply to all of Yerushalayim.

Singing Praises of Hashem

One who sings songs of praise to Hashem is permitted to play a musical instrument while doing so and the above discussion would not apply. This is permitted even with wine, and even on a regular basis.

Pesukim as Lyrics

The Gemorah in Sanhedrin says one is not allowed to use words of Shir Hashirim for a song. Rashi explains that this issur applies to all pesukim. The reason is because using the words of the Torah for his own enjoyement is a lack of proper kedusha. One who wishes to praise Hashem may sing the lyrics of the Torah. A posuk that is a nusach of davening may be sung by adding a tune to it. However, singing a certain posuk because you like the niggun is forbidden.

The Magen Avraham says when singing songs on Shabbos one should only sing songs which were composed esepcially for seudas Shabbos (and not other words of chazal). However, many poskim say the Magen Avraham only forbids other songs if they will be sung in a frivolous manner, and if they are used to praise Hashem then singing them is permitted.

Non-Jewish Music

Many non-Jewish songs have lyrics which are forbidden to listen to, since many of these songs (even those without lyrics) have the ability to bring one to lewdness. Other songs are wild and can cause one to act in a manner that is improper for a Jewish person. There is a discussion in the poskim if one can take a non-Jewish tune and sing Jewish words to it.

There are many types of classical music. Each situation is different and has to be judged on its own level if it has the din of non-Jewish music or not.

Today there are hundreds of Jewish CD and tapes on the market and one can easily avoid any questions of listening to non-Jewish music.

Afterthought

In the zechus of keeping these halachos as a remembrance of the churban bais hamikdosh may we be zocheh that Hashem will send us out of gulus so we can see the building of the third bais hamikdosh speedily in our days.