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Inappropriate Staring at the Opposite Gender: Difference between revisions

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The basis for the prohibition of staring at the opposite gender inappropriately is the pasuk "ולא תתורו אחרי לבבכם ואחרי עיניכם אשר אתם זונים אחריהם. למען תזכרו ועשיתם את כל מצותי והייתם קדושים לאלהיכם"<ref>Bamidbar 15:39</ref> Chazal understand it to mean that one's eyes shouldn't gaze at inappropriately dressed women because it leads to sin.<ref>Sifrei Bamidbar 115, Nedarim 20a. Bet Shmuel EH 21:2 citing the Rabbenu Yonah writes that the prohibition to look at inappropriately dressed women is Biblically derived from this pasuk of achrei ayneychem. </ref> Alternatively it is derived from the prohibition to have an inappropriate thought, which is forbidden by the pasuk "נִשְׁמַרְתָּ מִכֹּל דָּבָר רָע"<ref>Devarim 23:10</ref> according to Chazal<ref>Ketubot 46a, Rambam (Isurei Biyah 21:21), Igrot Moshe EH 1:56</ref>.
The basis for the prohibition of staring at the opposite gender inappropriately is the pasuk "ולא תתורו אחרי לבבכם ואחרי עיניכם אשר אתם זונים אחריהם," "One should not be strayed after one's heart or eyes which one strays after"<ref>Bamidbar 15:39</ref> Chazal understand it to mean that one's eyes shouldn't gaze at inappropriately dressed women because it leads to sin.<ref>Sifrei Bamidbar 115, Nedarim 20a. Bet Shmuel EH 21:2 citing the Rabbenu Yonah writes that the prohibition to look at inappropriately dressed women is Biblically derived from this pasuk of achrei ayneychem. </ref> Alternatively, looking at inappropriately dressed women is forbidden because of Chazal's understanding of the pasuk "נִשְׁמַרְתָּ מִכֹּל דָּבָר רָע"<ref>Devarim 23:10</ref>.<ref>Ketubot 46a, Rambam (Isurei Biyah 21:21), Igrot Moshe EH 1:56</ref>
==Staring at a Woman==
==Staring at a Woman==
# It is forbidden to stare<ref>Maharshal (Ketubot 2:3) writes that just looking is permitted even for a talmid chacham but not to look intently or stare. </ref> at any part of a woman's body, even her pinky, if one intends to derive pleasure from looking at it.<ref>[[Brachot]] 24a, Rambam (Isurei Biyah 21:2), Shulchan Aruch EH 21:1. The Bet Shmuel 21:2 writes that it is Biblically forbidden according to the Rabbenu Yonah (Igeret HaTeshuva 19, cited by Bet Yosef 21:2) and rabbinically forbidden according to the Rambam. Either way, having inappropriate thoughts ([[Hirhur]]) about such a woman is Biblically forbidden.</ref> This is a particularly serious sin.<ref>Yoma 74b</ref>
# It is forbidden to stare<ref>Maharshal (Ketubot 2:3) writes that just looking is permitted even for a talmid chacham but not to look intently or stare. </ref> at any part of a woman's body, even her pinky, if one intends to derive pleasure from looking at it.<ref>[[Brachot]] 24a, Rambam (Isurei Biyah 21:2), Shulchan Aruch EH 21:1. The Bet Shmuel 21:2 writes that it is Biblically forbidden according to the Rabbenu Yonah (Igeret HaTeshuva 19, cited by Bet Yosef 21:2) and rabbinically forbidden according to the Rambam. Either way, having inappropriate thoughts ([[Hirhur]]) about such a woman is Biblically forbidden.</ref> This is a particularly serious sin.<ref>Yoma 74b</ref>