Rav Abadi – Have you written about practices for the 3 Weeks and the Omer? I was wondering, in particular, about live music and attending concerts during these periods. And not attending in the context of a community whose members might not be aware of the law/custom/practice? I suppose this raises a much broader issue of the value and meaningfulness of individuals observing communal practices when such practices do not seem to have much communal impact. -Alan K
I have not yet written a full article specifically on the customs of the Omer and the Three Weeks, although perhaps I should at some point because there is a tremendous amount of confusion and exaggeration surrounding these practices.
First, I would not worry about what the community around you is doing or not doing. These customs are not dependent on everyone around you participating in some collective visible mourning experience. The point is for each individual Jew to remember that we lost the Beit HaMikdash, that Jewish history suffered a terrible loss, and that we would want it restored.
As for music, I do not consider ordinary listening to music, whether live recordings, radio, streaming, background music, or normal daily listening, to be a problem during Sefirat HaOmer or during most of the Three Weeks. Many rabbis today became extremely strict about music even though the original sources are far less clear and were discussing very different forms of celebration and entertainment than modern daily music consumption.
More importantly, people today often rely on music emotionally and psychologically. Walking around depressed, anxious, or emotionally drained is far worse than listening to normal music. Judaism was not given to make people miserable.
That said, I would recommend avoiding concerts, parties, or festive live music performances during Shavua Shechal Bo, the actual week in which Tisha B’Av falls. This year, since Tisha B’Av falls on Thursday, July 23, the stricter period would begin from that Sunday through Tisha B’Av itself.
Even then, I am referring mainly to festive concerts or celebratory live music events. .
So in practice:
• Regular music > permitted.
• Everyday listening > permitted.
• Live music generally > not something I would make an issue of during the Omer or most of the Three Weeks.
• Festive concerts or live entertainment during Shavua Shechal Bo > better to avoid.
The goal is not artificial sadness or public displays of mourning. The goal is awareness, perspective, and remembering what was lost.