Is it Permissible to Listen to Music on Asarah B'Tevet?

Greetings,

According to the letter of the law, it is permissible to listen to music on Asarah B'Tevet; however, it is advisable to refrain at least from listening to joyful music.

Sources: Refer to the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (Section 131, Paragraph 1), which states that it is forbidden to play musical instruments on the 17th of Tammuz and Asarah B'Tevet. The source of these words seems to be the Eliyah Rabah (Section 571, Paragraph 1), who wrote regarding the Shulchan Aruch's words there that once the month of Av enters we lessen joy, and it is possible that the same applies to the 17th of Tammuz and Asarah B'Tevet. Similarly, in the Pri Megadim (there in the Aish Abraham, end of Paragraph 1), it is written that on the 17th of Tammuz and Asarah B'Tevet, one should be strict if possible, as from the beginning of the month until the fast, and he referred to the aforementioned Eliyah Rabah, leaving it as a matter for further examination. Their words are also brought in the Biur Halacha (there, Section 2, under the term from the beginning of the month).

However, the Maharsham zt"l in his book Daas Torah (there, under the term and see) wrote that it is a typographical error in the Eliyah Rabah, and it is an extra line relevant to the end of Section 597. His grandson, Rabbi Shlomo Shvadron zt"l, agreed in a note there. Moreover, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky shlit"a, in his work Shoneh Halachos (there, Section 38) wrote that anyone who reviews the Eliyah Rabah will see that a line from the previous section was mistakenly duplicated, and there is no source for that, and I have heard that this has been pointed out before.

Also, see in the book Ashrei Ha'ish, Part 3 (page 197) that it is brought in the name of Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv zt"l that even on Ta'anit Esther it is advisable not to listen to songs, for although this fast does not come due to suffering, nonetheless, it is a day of fasting. However, see in the Responsa Maayan Omer, Part 3 (Chapter 8, Section 13), in the name of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt"l, that it is possible to listen to songs on Ta'anit Esther, because this is not comparable to other fasts. This indicates that they hold that on other fasts, one should or at least ought to be stringent.

Best wishes,

Hillel Meirs