Secondly, I think you should seriously contemplate whether your last statement was inappropriate. Not all thoughts should be publicized and can get you in hot water in Shamiyim.

What’s wrong with a Rav saying, “I no longer find myself fit to give advise to women”?

Just to get my point across I’ll bring in a story that I am personally aware of. There was once a defense attorney who in his early days used to accept all types of criminals as clients. At one point he took in a client who was on trial for murder (I don’t know any of the details). One day the client came over the house to speak to his attorney, but he wasn’t home. The attorney’s wife was so frightened that she demanded from her husband to never take another murder case again.

Now, according to you “Nay Sayers” he had no right to decline murder cases! After all, who will defend them? Should we just allow everyone on trial for murder to just be “eliminated”? Why not tell his wife to get over it?!

Bottom line – no one is obligated to give “kabalat Panim”, especially if he is not getting paid for it and furthermore when it’s not even part of his official position! In the case of Rav Arush his official position is head of the Chut Shel Chessed Institutions. Since when is he obligated to take time out from his family for activities that are neither concerning his institution, nor being paid for it? Such actions are called Chesed and chesed is not always obligatory.

If you feel otherwise, maybe put your body were your mouth is and stop wasting time online and start getting involved with chesed organizations!

Not being alone with a woman is perfectly understandable, but with her husband or with another person in the room isn’t Yichud. Why is that a problem?

1) Let’s not mistakenly think that just because we are all writing anonymously here that our statements are exempt from Hashem’s Mishpat. We will certainly be accountable for any unwarranted judging of others, harsh statements, and negativity even if they do not include Lashon Harah.

2) Ain Davar Chadash Tachas HaShemesh – Rav Arush is not taking upon himself anything that has not been done by others. It is well known that Rav Chaim Kanievsky, shlita does not see women. His father would not even read petiks from women. Although I don’t know for certain, but I’ve never seen women by Rav Shteinman, so it is possible that he doe not accept women either. My Rav only speaks to women through his wife (in other words, a woman will need to ask her sheilot to the Rav’s wife and she will ask it for her). I’m sure there are many other Rabbanim in Eretz Yisrael that also don’t see women as well.
It’s only because we tend to sensationalize such news reports (and I don’t blame YWN for this) that we get all heated up. If word went out on the streets that a certain Rav no longer accepts women, no one would get bent out of proportion. Those that go to him would just adjust to the new situation. It’s not that much different than when Rav Chaim stopped accepting people at night. So you adjust. No big deal.

3) Did anyone of the commentators above bother to ask their Rav, let alone a Gadol B’Yisrael, if such behavior is acceptable? I’m suspicious that you have not.

There are many behaviors in the area of tznius that most people today are not even aware of that Klal Yisrael practiced in earlier times. Perhaps ask your Rav or a Jewish Historian (such as Rav Berel Wine) if you are interested in finding out more.