[Avodah] Halachically Speaking on Select Modesty Issues

[Prof. Levine]

Volume 7, Issue 7 dealing with Select Modesty Issues is available at
<http://cts.vresp.com/c/?HalachicallySpeaking/e575e37b79/25eaba7ad5/5d7aca7a32/utm_content=larry62341%40optonline.net&utm_source=VerticalResponse&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Click%20here%20to%20download%20Volume%207%20Issue%207%20-%20Summer%20Halachos%20-%20Select%20Modesty%20Issues%2E&utm_campaign=Volume%207%20Issue%20%207%20-%20Summer%20Halachos%20-%20Select%20Modesty%20Issues>
here to download Volume 7 Issue 7 - Summer Halachos - Select Modesty Issues.
[Or <http://bit.ly/rmsWVN> -micha]

Here are some selections from this publication. I am not including the
footnotes. One may read them in the actual document.

Saying Shalom and other Expressions to a Woman

In the summer many people go away to bungalow colonies or summer homes,
where there are often women present. As will be explained in detail
below one area in which one must be careful is using words which are
not allowed to be said to a woman.

One is not allowed to say "Shalom" to a woman.45 The reason is because
Shalom is a name of Hashem which by saying it brings closeness to
people, and chazal made a geder46 which obligates one to avoid any type
of conduct that represents chibah (love).47 This would not apply to
saying this to young girls,48 or to ones close family relatives (sister,
mother, etc).49 Asking about a woman's welfare is likewise forbidden.
Therefore one should not say "how are you." One is permitted to inquire
about a woman through her husband.50 Others say doing so is permitted
through any third party.51

Some poskim say even if one is only saying "Shalom" out of niceness,
since that is how people speak, it should still be avoided.52 A woman
may not say "Shalom" to a man either.53

The Ben Yehoyada54 maintains that this halacha only applies to a woman
one does not know, and one would be permitted to say Shalom to someone
he knows since it is being done to show derech eretz not to bring
closeness. Based on this, some say that where one does not recognize
the woman, such as on the telephone, saying Shalom is permitted.55
Nonetheless, one must be careful not to use his words too leniently.
Although, some poskim say that telling a woman something is permitted if
one does not use the word Shalom,56 this is not a simple matter to permit.

One is permitted to shake his head at a woman to acknowledge her presence.

Mazel Tov/ Davening etc.

It is important to mention that one is permitted to wish mazel tov58 to a
woman at a simcha since it is a Tefillah and is not intended for chibah,
chazal did not include it in the issur.59 It is also permitted to daven
for a woman.60 Wishing a woman a good year is permitted.61 Wishing a
woman health or a get well soon is also permitted.62 One is permitted
to consol a woman mourner.63

"Good Shabbos/Morning/Evening, Hi or Hello"

The poskim write that saying good Shabbos,64 good morning, or good
evening to a woman does not fall into the above issur.65 Although others
say that doing so is not permitted,66 the custom is to permit these
expressions. One should avoid saying "hi" to a woman because it is an
expression which is only used by intimate friends.67 However, saying
"hello" would be permitted.68

Other Expressions

One is not allowed to ask a woman: How did you spend your Shabbos? Or
what are your vacation plans?69 Some say one who is walking in the
street and meets a woman he knows may ask about her family's welfare
since doing so is a nice gesture.



Let me remind everyone that just because I send something out does not
mean that I subscribe to it entirely or even in part. YL