Q&A: Calling Up Girls to Sing "Anim Zemirot"
Calling Up Girls to Sing "Anim Zemirot"
Question
Hello Rabbi,
In the synagogue where I pray, the gabbai called up a 7-year-old girl to sing "Anim Zemirot," and since then there has been a lot of commotion in the community around the issue (whether it is halakhically permitted or forbidden, what place tradition has in this, etc.).
I wanted to ask what the Rabbi's opinion is on the matter; I would be glad to hear your thoughts.
Thank you,
Answer
Look, it is commonly accepted that a woman's singing voice is forbidden. For this purpose, a female is considered such from age 3. Therefore it is hard to permit it, although I have various thoughts and reservations about this matter. In a place where the singing does not arouse forbidden thoughts (and it seems to me that this is the case here), there is room to be lenient. But I can understand those who forbid it. If you want to find a compromise, you can call up several girls (two voices are not heard distinctly), or a choir of several boys and girls together (which is, as is well known, hard as fire in flax).