Yichud

From Halachipedia

General rules

  1. It is forbidden from the Torah for a man to seclude himself with a woman to whom he is forbidden. It is Rabbinically forbidden for a man to seclude himself with even a single woman. It is also Rabbinically forbidden for a man to seclude himself with a non-Jewish woman. [1]
  2. It is permitted for a man to seclude himself with his mother, daughter, granddaughter, or wife even when she in her state of Niddah. It is permissible for a man to seclude himself with his sister, however, it shouldn't be done frequently. [2] A brother and sister still living in their parents home may be left alone together for only a few days and not for an extended period of time. [3]
  3. If a woman's husband is in the city, it's permissible to seclude with her unless one has a close relationship with her such as if one grew up with her or is a relative. [4]
  4. According to Sephardim, one may not be secluded with multiple woman nor one woman may not be secluded with multiple men. [5]
  5. It is forbidden for a man and woman to seclude them themselves together even if there's a camera or webcam that makes everything in the room visible to onlookers in another location. [6]

Car

  1. According to Sephardim, a man and woman may not drive together in a car on a road that's not heavily traveled especially at night. However, if there's three men and three women on the bus it's permissible. However, if some of the men and women leave and one woman is alone on the bus with male driver the woman must get off the bus unless there is a danger to get off. However, if there's a car on that road every 3 minutes it's permissible. [7]
  2. According to Ashkenazi, some say that it is not proper for a man and woman to travel alone in a car, while many others say that it is only forbidden to travel alone on small streets, where there only a few cars on the road.[8]

Elevator

  1. It is permissible for a man to enter an elevator in with a woman because the time in travel is usually very short. [9]However, some say that it is only permitted if the elevator has a travel time of less than 3 minutes. [10]

Different rooms

  1. Many authorities hold that one man may not be in the same house as a woman even if they are in different rooms. [11]

Sources

  1. ↑ Yalkut Yosef Hilchot Ishut EH Siman 22:1-2
  2. ↑ Yalkut Yosef Hilchot Ishut EH Siman 22:1, Gan Naul pages 9-10.
  3. ↑ Gan Naul pages 10-12
  4. ↑ Yalkut Yosef Hilchot Ishut EH Siman 22:7
  5. ↑ Yalkut Yosef Hilchot Ishut EH Siman 22:10
  6. ↑ Kuntres Internet BeHalacha (p. 33) discusses whether having a webcam is similar to having a door open to the public domain and in the conclusion quotes Rav Elyashiv saying that it is not a valid leniency.
  7. ↑ Yalkut Yosef Hilchot Ishut EH Siman 22:9
  8. ↑
    • Rav Moshe in Sh”t Igrot Moshe EH 4:65(3) writes that initially it is not proper for a man and woman to travel alone because of a concern that they may stop in a deserted area and do something inappropriate. However, in a case of pressing need such as if a woman in the community needs to go to the same place he’s traveling and if he refuses he’ll be considered selfish, one may rely on those who hold that there’s no concern that they will stop in a deserted area.
    • However, Rav Shlomo Zalman in Minchat Shlomo 1:91(21) writes that sometimes there's room to be lenient to rely on the fact that the car has windows which are visible to the public and that there's no concern that they may stop in a deserted place. (See there for more details). Additionally, Rav Vosner in Shevet HaLevi 5:202(1) writes that regarding the nighttime concern, there's room to be lenient since the person driving can't fall asleep, however, he adds that since sometimes intercity highways or even local streets become deserted at night one should be strict.
    • Lastly, Rabbi Jachter quotes Rav Mordechai Eliyahu (cited in Techumin 10:311), Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, and Rav Mordechai Willig ruling that it is permitted for a man to travel alone in a car with a woman unless one is driving in a very remote area or at a time when there are very few cars on the road. Nitai Gavriel (Yichud 44:1) rules that one roads where cars continue to pass by and the roads are well lit, there's no Yichud, however, on small streets where not very many cars travel it's forbidden. See further Rabbi Mansour on DailyHalacha.com.
  9. ↑ Rabbi Jachter quoting Teshuvot Igrot Moshe E.H. 4:65:16, Teshuvot Tzitz Eliezer 6:40:22, and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, Teshuvot Minchat Shlomo 1:91:22
  10. ↑ Yalkut Yosef (Chinuch pg 389)
  11. ↑ Sh"t Igrot Moshe 4:65:19. Rabbi Aryeh Lebowitz explains that even though Rav Moshe is strict there are some are opinions who are lenient but does not give a final ruling. See also Salmat Chaim 151, Chazon Ish 34:1-2, Shaar HaTzion 239:27, Chachmat Adam 126:7, Divrei Malkiel 4:22, Tzitz Eliezer 6:40 (chap 7:10).
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