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The following is from today's Hakhel email Bulletin. <br><br>
<font size=3>Special Note Two: As provided in the past, the
following are summer Shailos and Teshuvos--questions that we asked
<b>HaRav Yisroel Belsky, Shlita</b>, and his responses, which were either
taken from his handwritten responses to us--or from recordings of Hakhel
Shiurim at which the question was asked. If one needs further
clarification, he should consult with his Rav or Posek, who in any event
should be the final decisor for any person’s particular Shailah:<br><br>
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<div align="center"><b><u>SUMMER SHAILOS<br><br>
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</u>Calling Someone Else’s Spouse by Their First Name<br>
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QUESTION: We have all been in the same bungalow colony for the last ten
years. Is there anything wrong with referring to somebody else’s
spouse on a first name basis?<br><br>
ANSWER: </b>The way the question is worded, there is an implication that
something is not correct about calling somebody’s spouse by his or her
first name if you have only known them for eight or nine yearsbut that
ten years is different, and at that point, a first-name basis would be
permissible. However, the opposite is true. The longer one knows a
person of the opposite gender, the less likely you should call him or her
by his or her first name. There is more danger in such situations
when you become very familiar with another person’s spouse.
<i>Tznius </i>is something that has to be learned. The best way is
to promote an elevated level of <i>tznius </i>in the relaxed, summer
setting, whether in the bungalow colony or elsewhere. During the
weekdays, when women are alone in the country, they should still not go
out to the swimming pool from their bungalow without the proper outer
wear attire. <i>Tznius </i>should be an important issue at all
times. A person should use <i>chachma </i>and <i>seichel </i>and
not put themselves into potentially harmful situations. We live in
a world where everyone else considers normal those activities that we
recognize as <i>to’aivah </i>(abominations). Therefore, you have to
be careful that you behave and talk in a manner that reflects <i>tznius
</i>and self-control. These tiny breaches if not controlled can be
the openings for dangerous situations.<br><br>
YL<br>
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