HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Zilberstein, Rav of the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood in Bnei Brak, was asked whether it is muttar to be mesameach seriously ill patients with musical instruments during the Three Weeks.

His psak was published in detail in the Divrei Chemed pamphlet.

Shaila: There are groups of volunteers who visit hospitals to encourage and be mesameach patients suffering from serious illnesses, and they bring musical instruments with them. We would like to ask whether it is permissible to visit and be mesameach the patients with musical instruments during the Three Weeks, and even during the Nine Days, or whether, during this period of mourning over the Churban Beis HaMikdash, playing musical instruments is prohibited.

Teshuva: It is stated in Masectas Yoma (82a), “Nothing stands in the way of pikuach nefesh,” and bringing joy to a sick person is a great mitzvah, as Shlomo HaMelech said (Mishlei 18:14), “A man’s spirit sustains him through illness.”

We also find that simcha itself contributes to healing. As Chazal taught in Masechtas Shabbos (113a), “A large stride diminishes one five-hundredth of a person’s eyesight, and it is restored through the Friday night Kiddush.” That is, a person’s eyesight is restored during Kiddush on Friday night through the enjoyment of the wine and by looking at the Shabbos candles.

The Iyun Yaakov explains this based on the Gemara in Masechtas Avodah Zarah (28b): “The roots of the eyes are connected to the chambers of the heart.” Since it is written, “Wine gladdens the heart of man” (Tehillim 104:15), and also, “The light of the eyes gladdens the heart” (Mishlei 15:30), the joy experienced through the wine of Kiddush and the Shabbos candles brings healing to the heart, which in turn brings healing to the eyes.

Therefore, it is a great mitzvah to visit, sing, and bring joy to patients suffering from serious illnesses, even during these difficult days in which we mourn the Churban Beis HaMikdash.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)