Q & A - WITH RABBI RISKIN
Question: Is it permissible for women to sing in a choir?
Answer:
The Gemara (Berakhot 24) teaches that “a
woman’s voice is ‘erva’ (literally, ‘nakedness’).” There
is great controversy among the Rishonim as to how these words
are to be understood. According to most of the Geonim (Otzar
ha-Geonim ad loc.), one is prohibited to listen to a woman
singing only when one is reciting Shema. At the other end of the
spectrum, Rashi interprets the Gemara as teaching that one may
not hear a woman’s voice - even in regular speech. The Meiri
explains that this prohibition applies only where the woman’s
voice arouses the man to erotic thoughts – in other words, the
measure of whether or not he may listen is a subjective one.
Nevertheless, all of the poskim
agree that a woman may not sing love songs solo, as it is
written, “For your voice is sweet and your appearance is
comely.” (I would rule that it is also forbidden for a man to
sing love songs with erotic innuendos.)
There are many poskim who rule that a woman
may sing neither solo nor as a member of a choir. However, Rabbi
Yehiel Weinberg (Seridei Eish Responsa), Rabbi Azriel
Hildesheimer, and Rabbi Shimshon Refael Hirsch all permit a
woman to sing in a choir because the voices intermingle and are
indistinguishable. It is important to note that there is an
important responsum of the Sedeh Hemed, permitting a
woman to sing liturgical songs (prayers or verses). Moreover, in
most homes Shabbat songs are sung around the table by the whole
family together, without barring the women’s voices. Therefore,
it would seem to me that a woman may certainly sing songs of
prayer, biblical verses, or songs of Eretz Yisrael as part of a
choir.
