Coffee addict: “You haven’t quoted where to find it”
I actually did. I took the time and spent the money to listen to the entire shiur just so I could quote it. I have copied and posted my original post below. You can listen to the shiur yourself.
Coffee addict: “and anyways I see that you said anywhere within sight is a problem”
That statement was in answer to the question “how far away is a problem?” I was just answering that IN A SITUATION where it is a problem, I think the Halacha is anywhere in a sight (for example, in the olden days when it was completely assur).
Previous post copied and pasted:
I just spent $3.00 to purchase a download of Rav Frand’s shiur entitled “Nasso 20- Walking behind a woman” from the Yad Yechiel website.
He first quotes the Gemara, Rambam and Shulchan Aruch who say that it is assur to walk behind a woman. He then brings the Tzitz Eliezer who raises the question regarding what to do if you encounter an Eishes Chaveir (wife of a Talmid Chacham). On the one hand, there is an obligation to show honor to the wife of a Talmid Chacham which would entail letting her go first. On the other hand, it is forbidden for a man to walk behind a woman.
The Tzitz Eliezer quotes the Trumas Hadeshen who states that he should let her go first since today we are not so careful not to walk behind women in general. The Tzitz Eliezer is puzzled by this – why should that make a difference? He came up with the following svara to explain the Trumas Hadeshen- it used to be that women did not go out and it was unusual to find a woman in the street so the sight of a woman was likely to lead to hirhur. However, today (in the Trumas Hadeshen’s times) it had become normal for women to be out on the streets, so it was no longer a problem to walk behind a woman.
The Tzitz Eliezer wrote his svara to Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach who was maskim to (accepted) it. Rav Shlomo Zalman also added that when manners dictate letting the woman go first, one should do so.
Rav Frand also added that Rav Dovid (I’m not sure who that is, but the guys present probably know) would tell bochurim when they were dating to hold open the door for the girl even though this would entail walking behind her. (although personally, I don’t see why this has to be the case. Why can’t she walk through the doorway and then move to the side?, but in any case, that seemed to be his assumption)
If anyone wants to listen to the shiur, they can purchase the download for $3.00. Please don’t argue with me about the topic until you have listened to the shiur.