[Avodah] Public displays of affection, was [Areivim]

[Ben Waxman]

The orginal source is the Mordechai. The Beit Yosef felt this must be ta'ut sofer. The Drisha rejects this interpretation. and states that what the Mordechai wrote about is washing the entire body. In his view, washing the filth off someone's body is not inherently arousing. If someone has a problem, that is something else. But in general, only the washing of a man's hands and feet are actions of affection, and therefore those are the khiddush. But having a non-Jew wash a Jewish man should not be a problem and that was the minhag.

Ben
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tal Moshe Zwecker 
  To: avodah at lists.aishdas.org ; Ben Waxman 
  Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 12:06 AM
  Subject: Re: [Avodah] Public displays of affection, was [Areivim]


  The Rema from SA, EH 21:5 does not permit a sponge bath of the body if you see the lashon of the Mechaber it is clear that rechitzah refers to panav yadav veraglav (face hands and feet) see for example GRA 20 who explains that this was a custom of servants and maids the example given is Avigail washing Adoniyah's feet.

  Either way it should be clear from Beis Shmuel and Chelkas Mechokek that whoever's yetzer hara will be aroused must distance himself from this.

  Lets not get carried away folks :)
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