Joseph

ames, gut gefregt!

not signing does not equate to a lack of opposition.

Kollel = Torah = necessity.

SJS, Shulchan Aruch, etc. says it IS tiflus.

It is an issur d’oraysah. Reb Moshe, in the Igros Moshe, states that Lo Sikrevu means you can’t talk to girls. Rav Moshe is quoting a statment of Chazal in Avos D’Reb Nosson and rulings of the Ran and others. Avos: “Al tarbeh sichah im haishah” – Do not talk more than necessary with women. The Mishnah continues: “Whoever does talk more than necessary with women causes bad for himself . . . and in the end will end up in Gehinnom!” Re derech chibah: The Halachah (Rambam) prohibits negiyah even in a non-affectionate manner. Casual negiyah is also prohibited — see the Steipler’s Letters quoting the Chazon Ish for details — even if it doesn’t “mean anything”. Even regarding a simple handshake between strangers, Rav Moshe writes that you should not rely on this as a heter.

Lo Sikrevu – the Torah prohibition of touching – is referring even to non-affectionate touching, according to the Rambam. The Ramban argues, and holds that non-affectionate touching is not included in the possuk, but is assur nonetheless m’drabbanan. The prohibition of Lo Sikravu applies to all ages equally. There is no logic in saying that an explicit Torah prohibition is “not talking” about certain ages.

Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer:

“A person must stay far, far away from the women, and it is prohibited to signal with your hand, to hint with your eyes, to any prohibited women. It is furthermore prohibited to laugh together with them and to be frivolous in her presence, or to watch her beauty. Even to smell her perfume is forbidden….”

Rav Moshe addressed the Derech Chibah issue in his Teshuva, saying that whenever boys and girls are friends, even innocently, that is considered Assur, like Derech Chibah. R. Moshe Feinstein repeatedly (Iggeros Moshe, Orach Chaim vol. 1 no. 113; Even Ha-Ezer vol. 1 no. 56) ruled that a man enjoys shaking a woman’s hand and it is therefore

prohibited. The Steipler writes in his letters in the name of the Chazon Ish that it is absolutely prohibited. Regarding a so-called heter that you will embarass her if you don’t shake hands, it’s simple logic: If someone asked you to call them on Shabbos and you telligng them sorry I cant do that would embarrass them for asking, would you be mechalel shabbos to prevent their embarrassment? Or if someone offered you non-kosher food and refusing would embarrass them would you eat treif?

squeak put it best.

Jothar, I made no reference to most of your points in my previous comments.

chashmal is a corruption of loshon kodesh and the Torah.

reverse psychology?

I am in constant touch with Rav Elyashev Shlita, and do whatever he decrees.

“for the first time in two years i disagree with joseph.”

I do allow, in my graciousness, one disagreement per year, per person. So Feivel, you’re still good, and still even have one extra-credit carried over from last year when you never disagreed with me. 🙂 But in all seriousness, I do appreciate your strong vote of confidence.

My question above, indeed was too strong, and I made an incorrect point that there is never a benefit. In fact it is beneficial for the right girls, as you well said Eretz Yisroel is inherently kodosh right in the very air that is breathed in the holy land.

My concern is, as myshadow and others above have pointed out, the inherent dangers for the wrong person to be sent there without the proper supervision. Too many go there, it seems to me, for fun and games and not for the kedusha. This can, and is, detrimental to the neshomo. Additionally, (and the financial cost of going is a factor) the benefit going to EY is usually far greater spiritually for boys (that it is appropriate for) that go to learn Torah in EY, than for girls. This point I’ve heard from those far greater than I, and is not my own chiddush.

anon,

Because it says in the Igros Moshe (Choshem Mishpat volume 2, siman 32,

sub heading 9 ?) that it is assur to shake a woman’s hand. (It also says in the IM it is prohibited to chat with women, like ujm provided the mekor yesterday.)

coke not pepsi, why did you choose that sn?

an open book – a bored mod, perhaps?

If something is loud and attention drawing, it lacks tznius.

asdf, subscribe to any numismatics periodical?

Jothar?

squeak… care to explain?

beacon – if you draw the scrabble board.

…to learn with. And a girl to marry.

SJS, The Gedolim don’t need us as much as we need them. They are Gedolim whether everyone or no one follows them. They are G-d’s messenger’s on Earth.

I’m lactose intolerant.

You must be Ashkenazi. 😛