Yichud: Difference between revisions

*Does the prohibition of yichud include a concern of rape or just seduction? Igrot Moshe 4:65:19 writes that yichud was instituted for seduction or mutual consent and not rape.

#It is permitted for many men and women to be secluded together.<ref>Shulchan Aruch EH 22:6</ref> What constitutes many men and many women? Some poskim write that only if there's 3 men and 3 women,<ref>Birkei Yosef EH 22:3, Pitchei Teshuva 22:5, Chelkat Mechokek EH 22:6 based on the Maggid Mishna but himself questions it. Bet Shmuel 22:8 writes that "many women" means 3 but he doesn't explain what "many men" means.</ref> some say 2 men and 3 women,<ref>Chachmat Adam 126:3 based on Bet Shmuel 22:8</ref> and some say 2 men and 2 women constitute many men and many women.<ref>Bach 22</ref> The poskim are generally strict to consider it 3 men and 3 women.<ref>Igrot Moshe EH 4:65:15</ref>

#According to Ashkenazim, some permit one man to seclude with 3 or more women unless in profession he deals with women.<ref>Rama E.H. 22:5</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 (''Libo Gas Ba'') such as if one grew up with her or is a relative. <ref>Shulchan Aruch EH 22:7, Yalkut Yosef Hilchot Ishut EH Siman 22:7 </ref>

#Some poskim hold that this only applies if the husband can come at any moment but not if a person knows that their husband isn't coming home until a certain time since he's at work or is involved with a specific task.<ref>Igrot Moshe EH 4:65:6</ref> Others are lenient.<ref>Yalkut Yosef EH 22:7 is lenient even if the husband is on the other side of town or he doesn't know in where his wife currently is.</ref>

#Most poskim assume that this leniency of having a very close relative such as one's wife isn't yichud and protects from yichud, applies also 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 another woman 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> Similarly, the minhag is to permit yichud for a grandchild with one's grandmother. Then even if there's another woman there it isn't yichud because of the presence of the grandmother.<ref>Rav Soloveitchik as cited in Nefesh Harav p. 256 was lenient about a man with his grandmother even though there was another one of his female cousins there since the man with his grandmother isn't yichud and the grandmother protects him from yichud with another woman. Rav Schachter comments that this is in accordance with Igrot Moshe EH 2:15.</ref> Sephardim are strict that there is yichud if there's another women with whom it is permitted to have yichud.<ref>The Chida in Yosef Ometz 26 writes that even though it is permitted to have yichud with one's mother it is certainly forbidden to have yichud with your mother and another women with whom yichud is forbidden. He explains that the only reason it is permitted to have yichud when one's wife is there is because she'll protect him from sin, whereas a mother won't. Minchat Ish 1:11:1 quotes the dispute between the Chida and Rav Chaim Palagi and is strict unless it is only derabbanan yichud. Gan Naul 12:2 is strict unless there is a situation of need in which case there is what to rely upon to be lenient. He cites that Rav Moshe Halevi and Chacham Ben Tzion Abba Shaul were strict on this issue.</ref>

#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>

#If a woman locks herself in a room and the man in on the outside room that is considered yichud.<ref>Igrot Moshe EH 4:65:19</ref>

#The minhag is to permit a man to teach girls if he's married even if his wife isn't in the same city.<ref>Igrot Moshe EH 4:65:13 writes that the minhag is to follow Rabbi Akiva Eiger and not the Chelkat Mechokek 22:21 on this question.</ref>

#A woman can be a teacher for boys if her husband is in the town all the time (so that no issue of yichud arises).<ref>Igrot Moshe EH 4:65:18</ref>