Yichud: Difference between revisions

# 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 any woman, even a single woman. It doesn't matter if the woman is Jewish or non-Jewish.<ref>Shulchan Aruch EH 22:1-2, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 152:1, Yalkut Yosef Hilchot Ishut EH Siman 22:1-2.  

* The Gemara Kiddushin 80b learns from a Pasuk that Yichud with a relative who one is forbidden to live with (someone who would be in the category of Arayot) is prohibited. The Gemara (Avoda Zara 36b) explicitly calls Yichud with a married women to be a biblical prohibition. Thus, Tur EH 22:1 writes that Yichud with an Erveh is biblical. The Rambam (Issurei Biyah 22:2), however, argues that Yichud is only Divrei Kabbalah. Bet Yosef (EH 22:1) explains that the Rambam holds that Yichud is biblical but just isn't explicit in the Torah.

* The Gemara Avoda Zara 36b says that the Bet Din of Dovid HaMelech instituted the prohibition of Yichud with a single woman and Bet Shamai and Bet Hillel extended Yichud to a non-Jewish woman as well. </ref>

# According to Sephardim, one may not be secluded with multiple woman nor one woman may not be secluded with multiple men. <ref>Yalkut Yosef Hilchot Ishut EH Siman 22:10. According to Yam Shel Shlomo Kiddushin Siman 20 and Sh"t Maharsham 3:152, one man with two women is a biblical prohibition. see however, Sh"t HaRashba 1:587 and Sh"t Chavot Yair 73 </ref>

# 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. <ref>Yalkut Yosef Hilchot Ishut EH Siman 22:1, Gan Naul pages 9-10. </ref> 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. <ref> Gan Naul pages 10-12 </ref>

# 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. <ref>Yalkut Yosef Hilchot Ishut EH Siman 22:7 </ref>

# When one’s wife is with him, there is no problem of being alone with other women as well<ref> S"A Even Haezer 22:5. Beit Shmuel 22:8 says that the reason for this leniency is that one’s wife is assumed to watch him to avoid sinning </ref>  Most poskim assume that this leniency applies to one's mother, daughter, and sister as well. Therefore, if a man is in a room with his wife, mother, daughter or sister, and one other woman he does not violate the yichud prohibition. <ref>The Pitchei Teshuva EH 22:2 does not extend this Heter to one’s daughter (meaning a man, his daughter and a third person would violate Yichud), while Iggerot Moshe Even Haezer 2:15 extends it to a daughter and in Iggerot Moshe 4:65:8 extends it to a mother, and sister as well. The Nitei Gavriel Yichud 40:1 follows Rav Moshe (and in footnote 1 quotes many others who do as well). </ref>  

# It is permitted for a man and woman to be secluded with one another in an area that is open to the public<ref>Kiddushin 81a, Shulchan Aruch EH 22:9</ref> except at nighttime.<ref> Beer Heitev 22:9, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 152:5</ref>

# Some say that as long as the door is unlocked even if it is closed that area is considered open to the public<ref>Rashba (responsa 1:1251)</ref>, however, some say that it is only considered open if the door is actually open.<ref>Pitchei Teshuva 22:8 quoting the Beit Meir and Rabbi Akiva Eiger (responsa 100)</ref> Practically, some say that one can be lenient only if people in that area enter without knocking and getting permission.<ref>Nitai Gavriel (Yichud 33:1), Dvar Halacha (responsa 26)</ref> Some say that in cases of need one can be lenient regarding any rabbinical form of yichud.<ref>[http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/792159/Rabbi_Uri_Orlian/Hilchos_Yichud Rabbi Uri Orlian in a shiur on yutorah.org (min 70-3)]</ref>

# Many poskim hold that it is forbidden to seclude oneself with a woman which one is comfortable around in an area open to the public. <Ref>The Chelkat Mechokek 22:13 writes that a person who is comfortable around a certain woman is forbidden to seclude himself with her in an area open to the public. The Taz 22:9, however, disagrees and permits. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 152:5 rules like the Chelkat Mechokek. Nitai Gavriel (Yichud 32:7) writes that in cases of need such as with a doctor one may be lenient unless the person is comfortable around the woman in an inappropriate sense. </ref>

==Car==

==Different rooms==

# Many authorities hold that one man may not be in the same house as a woman even if they are in different rooms. <ref>Sh"t Igrot Moshe 4:65:19. [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/762691/Rabbi_Aryeh_Lebowitz/Ten_Minute_Halacha_-_Does_Closing_the_Door_Help_Save_Yichud_Problems 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 HaTziyun 239:27, Chachmat Adam 126:7, Divrei Malkiel 4:22, Tzitz Eliezer 6:40 (chap 7:10). </ref>

==Sources==

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