Why can't a male listen to a female singer?

Individual differences between people matter when dealing with people directly on a one-to-one basis, but it is not really a factor in Jewish law. To give a secular comparison, a red light means Stop and a green light means Go, no matter who is crossing the street. So regardless of how any individual adult male feels in reaction to a woman singing in person, the rule is still the same. Reply

So why the double standard? ,women swoon at a man singing, and don’t say it’s because they aren’t attracted immediately to men, they are very much capable of so. Reply

This is where simple common sense comes into play. Women may swoon at a man singing, but let's be honest, it does not mean anywhere nearly the same thing as a man's response to watching and hearing a beautiful woman singing. Men spill seed; women do not Reply

Women may not have the same biological function as a male but they can still get lewd thoughts in their head and act on it. The spilling seed argument is hard for me to believe as even when a baby is born, the millions of other seed die within minutes Reply

Yes but the law still hinders the individual for no good reason, for example would you force a wheelchair bound person to climb a set of stairs? Also if jewish law is about the people, then why doesn’t it care about the individual? Also there is such a thing as an exception…
And if Judaism doesn’t care about feelings, then how can it be a religion for human beings? Reply

Not only does Judaism care about individuals, but it is very likely the original source for the very concept of individual rights, but it also does not allow for favoring any one individual over another. Equal protection under the law, the concept of blind justice, which is the only true justice there is, comes from our Torah Reply

lol yes, of course! Reply

Mozart just so happens to be my favorite musical composer of all time. Nevertheless, listening to his Mass in C Minor is prohibited in Jewish law, not because of its music, but rather because its religious content is contrary to that of Judaism. Keep in mind that for us Jews, Christianity is considered idolatry. Not being able to listen to such music may feel like an aesthetic loss for us Jews, but keep in mind that there are so many hours of beautiful, purely instrumental music written by Mozart that we can listen to, such as his later symphonies and piano concertos Reply

Mozart is my favorite, too.

Since I don't speak German, or whatever language mass in c minor is in, I have no idea what they are saying. My sole focus is on the music. Why is it a problem?

And if anyone knows, I'd be interested to hear where this halacha is stated and originates from, but it's not important. Reply

The reason why Jews are not halachically permitted to listen to a musical piece such as Mozart's Mass in C Minor is because it glorifies the specifically Christian Deity whom we Jews categorically reject. Put another way, to listen to it is a form of idolatry, even if that is not our intention when listening to it. btw, one can listen to that same piece of music, just as long as one listens only to the purely instrumental version of it, if it exists. In other words, the problem is not the music per se, but rather its lyrics Reply

My guess is that while little boys are allowed to listen to a woman sing, that for the sake of religious Jewish training, such a practice is probably discouraged Reply

Certainly. They can also listen to their mother, sisters, and daughters sing. Also, it is possible that any prohibition regarding men hearing women sing, applies only for live singing, not for recordings Reply

The responsibility falls on a man as a man cannot control a situation that is outside of his home or a general male area (such as shul)

If a man is at a concert where a female band or singer is performing then it is the man who needs to seperate himself. So too if he's in a mall, listening to the radio, at a park...

There are all female Jewish bands that have a disclaimer of "Kol Isha" on their posters and music videos to warn men.

Women can only really try to accommodate men but men have the responsibility to not listen or to distance themselves when needed. Reply

What would be the law for a man to see a band with a female lead singer. if the woman is pretty old like 77 years old. Thean wants to see the band for the music not to look at the woman. as I said she is 77 years old. is it permissable ? Reply

Women can certainly sing in public in front of an all-female audience. The problem comes in when some of the audience is male. Now, from what I understand, the problem is only when the performance is live. In other words, at least according to some halachic opinions, a man is allowed to listen to recordings of female singing, just not live singing. Also, I recently came across a musical group made mostly up of women playing purely instrumental music. Since they are playing instruments, but not singing, men would be permitted to attend their concerts. Reply

Hi, sister. I am not qualified to give the answer to your question, but I know that your voice singing praises will always be music to the ears of Hashem. No pun intended at all. Please don't ever stop singing to Him. And He makes the best audience, too ;) Reply

In a similar vein to this. We are told that when Miriam and the women sang after the Yam Suf they did so apart from the Men. First the men sang, then the angels, and finally (saving the best for last) the women. Reply

So then why exclude me?! Why?! This law has literally ruined my life countless times, let me join as well! I’m tired of being excluded and cast to the side because of one little private part! Reply

I cannot even imagine a man's life being ruined by not being able to hear a woman singing live Reply

I appreciate your comment because you touch upon the heart of this subject which is that Judaism challenges the human to rise above his/her primal self and live with greater Divine intention. Indeed, ultimately - in a world of Redemption (Mashiach) - both men & women will be able to interact with true Divine intention, so that an act as pure as singing is never sexualized by either gender. We are refining ourselves towards this goal, and the more each individual fuses his/her singing and listening with Divine intention, the sooner we will be able to truly and freely live at that level. Reply

Male vs Female Singing I think that the answer to this question, is that male sexuality is very different from female sexuality. Yes, women are attracted to men just as men are attracted to women, and yet the nature of the attraction is different. A man can merely look at a physically beautiful woman, and be instantaneously attracted to her sexually, even though he may know nothing else about her other than her good looks. In sharp contrast, women are not instantly erotically attracted to a man merely because he may be handsome. The woman first has to find out other, more intangible qualities about that man, such as his intelligence, his courage, his fortitude, and so on. Thus there is far more danger when a man listens to a beautiful woman singing, then when a woman listens to a handsome man singing. Reply

Because different things happen to a man physically than a woman when they are excited about a woman, or her voice...and the potential to sin is greater... Reply

Nothing matters. Don't give up singing. It's as simple as that. Reply

No, that is an entirely different matter. There is no Jewish prohibition against a woman playing a musical instrument, even in front of an audience of men and women. Reply

they can wear a scarf instead of a sheitl. Reply