Musical instruments during prayer
Question
Answer
Shalom u’vracha.
Throughout all generations people did not play musical instruments during prayer.
At the beginning of the Haskalah (Enlightenment) period, the Reform movement introduced the innovation of bringing musical instruments into the synagogue in order to resemble the Christians, who play the organ during their services.
Therefore, the great sages of the generation, such as the Chatam Sofer and others, arose and fought vigorously against these “innovators,” who came to uproot the entire Torah under the guise of “improvements in religion,” as was borne out in the subsequent generations.
There is no difference between Hallel and other prayers in this regard.
Source
See She’elot u‑Teshuvot Chatam Sofer (vol. 6, Likutim §§84, 86, 89); She’elot u‑Teshuvot Lev Chaim (Palagi, vol. 2 §9); Sedei Chemed (Ma’arechet Beit HaKnesset, letter bet; Asupat Devarim, Ma’arechet Chatan ve‑Kallah §1); Kaf HaChaim (siman 151 §19); She’elot u‑Teshuvot Minchat Yitzchak (vol. 5 §97); She’elot u‑Teshuvot Divrei Chaim, Orach Chaim (vol. 2 §§17–18); She’elot u‑Teshuvot Shemesh u‑Marpe (vol. 2 §3); She’elot u‑Teshuvot Shevet HaLevi (vol. 1 §26); She’elot u‑Teshuvot Igrot Moshe (vol. 2, Orach Chaim, siman 30).
