Q. Dear Rabbi Bartfeld, shlit"a My son has a waterproof bluetooth speaker that he can take in the shower and listen to music. This can be helpful in that the music makes him energetic in the morning. Is there a problem listening to songs that have psukim or parts of psukim, given that it is being played in the washroom? For that matter, what if a person is in the washroom and can hear music with psukim that is being played loudly in another room?
Thank you.
A. On question 144 we wrote; “Poiskim rule that you cannot listen to a Torah tape while working inside, (a bathroom) as you would be thinking Torah thoughts in an undesirable location. (Be’er Moishe 6, 108, 4 – Be’er Sorim 36). It is noteworthy to mention that Horav Ovadia Yosef Shlit”a (Yavia Omer 5,11 – Halichos Oilom 1, p.119) permits listening to tapes or liturgical music while taking a bath on a private bathroom that has no toilet present. According to his view you would be permitted to listen to Torah tapes while working in such a location. However, Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is to be always particularly respectful on the holiness of the Torah…”
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit”a opinion is that he should not take his bluetooth devise into the bathroom nor listen to any songs that contain psukim or other divrei kodesh when there.
If one is on the bathroom he should certainly try to avoid listening to the above, if it cannot be done, as with laud music originating from other areas or buildings not under his control, if he does not have any intention to listen it is permitted in need, as it is a dovor sheino miskaven or an unintentional act.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit”a
Important Numbers
