[Avodah] Yichud In An Elevator?

[Prof. Levine]

The following is from http://revach.net/article.php?id=3104

Rav Menashe Klein: Yichud In An Elevator?

Someone asked Rav Menashe Klein (Mishneh Halachos 4:187) a question 
as follows.  Obviously, says the questioner, if a woman comes into an 
elevator that you are in, you must leave because of the issur of 
Yichud.  But what about if there is a closed circuit video system in 
the elevator, is it then permissible to stay?

Rav Menashe Klein says that it is not so obvious that there is yichud 
in an elevator.  In fact he says there is no yichud in a modern 
elevator.  The reason is that there is no yichudin a room or house 
that is opened to a public area because anyone can come in at any 
time, even if a surprise entry in very unlikely to occur as in most 
scenarios.  Certainly in an elevator that can stop at any floor 
without warning, there is no issur of yichud.

Although no one can enter when the elevator is between floors, Rav 
Klein says that there is not enough time for yichud, as the Shiur for 
Yichud is the time it takes to roast an egg.  Furthermore, he says 
that even according to the opinion that Chatzi Shiur (less than the 
shiur) is assur Min HaTorah, in the case of yichud it is 
permissible.  The reason is that Yichud is forbidden because of what 
it can lead to, and in less than the shiur it cannot lead to anything.

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