Who is included in the prohibition of hearing a woman's voice?

Greetings,

1. A man is forbidden to hear a strange woman singing (see Shulchan Aruch, Even HaEzer 21:1, and Mishnah Berurah 21:13), and a gentile woman, even if she is not married, is included in this prohibition (Mishnah Berurah there in the name of the Pri Megadim).

However, it is permitted to hear the singing of his mother and daughter (Birur Halacha, vol. 5, p. 32; Levushah shel Torah, vol. 2, Even HaEzer 71, sections 1-2, and Responsa Veyaan David, vol. 7, Even HaEzer 15) and granddaughter. It is also possible to be lenient about hearing his sister sing (see Responsa Divrei Yatziv, Even HaEzer 36, Responsa Even Yisrael, vol. 9, Even HaEzer 63, and Responsa Asher Chanun, vol. 2, Even HaEzer 18. Also see further comprehensive discussion on this in the book Levushah shel Torah, vol. 2, Even HaEzer 71, which rules leniently).

2. According to the opinion of Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef zt"l, a husband is allowed to hear his wife, who is in the state of niddah (ritually impure), while she sings, especially in a situation of necessity, such as when she is singing a lullaby to a crying baby to calm him or put him to sleep (Taharat Habayit, vol. 2, Even HaEzer 29:20).

3. Regarding listening to a woman's voice on a tape or radio - Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef zt"l holds that as a matter of principle, it is permitted to hear the voice of a woman on the radio, even if she is alive and he knows her, because it is not the voice of a woman in the literal sense, but a reproduction of her voice through electrical waves (Responsa Yabia Omer, vol. 9, Orach Chaim 78:53). Of course, this is only if the words of the song are completely clean and do not cause the listener any improper thoughts.

4. A man is permitted to hear a woman whistling (this is the opinion of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky shlit"a in the book Daas Notzach, vol. 1, p. 233, response 69. Rabbi Meir Halberstam zt"l also expressed a leaning towards this in a response to me orally in 2003. It was also stated in the book Ume Ani Choma, vol. 1, at the end of the book, Even HaEzer 21, section 3, that it seems there is no prohibition, except that it is not proper for virtuous Jewish women to sing in such a way. Likewise, it is stated in the book Levushah shel Torah, vol. 2, pp. 728-729, that it is clear that the prohibition of a woman's voice does not apply here, even though it is not appropriate for Jewish girls to do so).

5. Although it is permitted for a gentile to hear a woman's voice, she should refrain from singing in front of a gentile, as this involves a lack of modesty on her part (see Responsa Rabos Efrayim, vol. 5, Even HaEzer 25, Responsa Be'er Shariim, vol. 2, Even HaEzer 54:1, and the book Ume Ani Choma, p. 71, sec. 213, which states that it is not prohibited for a woman to sing before a gentile. Likewise in the book Ashrei Ha-Ish, Even HaEzer, vol. 2, chapter 13, section 39, in the name of Rabbi Yisrael Elisha zt"l. Nevertheless, it seems it is preferable to avoid this due to the issue of modesty. This is also noted in the book Chen Sheni on Even HaEzer 21, p. 143, that it is not proper for girls to sing before a gentile due to the modesty of the woman. And in Responsa Veyaan David, vol. 2, Even HaEzer 185, he prohibited this matter as a matter of principle).

6. There is no prohibition for a man to hear a woman playing an instrument (as explained in Aruch HaShulchan, Even HaEzer 21:8, and in the book Taharat Habayit, vol. 2, 2019 edition, p. 178. This is also the case in the book Ashrei Ha-Ish, Even HaEzer, vol. 2, chapter 13, section 13).

Best regards,

Hillel Meirs