What's the halacha on touch with a nidda? Hand holding, etc. Are we talking d'oraisa, d'rabbanan, chumra, what?
2007-08-23 04:37:14 · 14 answers · asked by Aliya 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Are we talking "custom" or are we talking "law" when it comes to contact like holding or shaking hands?
2007-08-23 05:25:48 · update #1
Let's try this again:
Is this d'oraisa, d'rabbanan, or chumra? Can ANYONE give me a source?
2007-08-23 07:58:25 · update #2
Here you're mixing up two principles:
Men cannot touch a niddah, period. A woman becomes a niddah when she gets her period. After she bathes in the mikveh, she is no longer a niddah and can be touched again (if she is married.) If a couple is shomer negiah and they are dating (this is before they are married) they cannot touch, period. The reasoning being that human thinking generally goes like this; well, if we can shake hands, I guess we can hold hands....if we can hold hands, I guess we can hug. If we can hug, what's the harm in a little kiss on the cheek? If we can kiss on the cheek, why not kiss for real, it's just a little farther? If we can kiss, we can do other things, if we can do other things, it's just a little farther from sex, and besides, we want it sooo bad....so you see how it goes. So goes the principle of shomer negiah--no touching from the getgo. Halacha on touching a niddah is simple. No touching. Shomer negiah: also no touching. Married non-niddah--go ahead. Married niddah--wait until she comes back from the mikveh, then go ahead.
2007-08-23 06:09:48 · answer #1 · answered by LadySuri 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In Orthodoxy there is to be no physical contact. Nothing. That is why a married or unmarried man will not even shake a womans hand.
Sex is therefore, WAY out.
The halacha is complex but can be summed up with "no touchy". LOL
2007-08-23 04:41:34 · answer #2 · answered by Feivel 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
One who holds by halacha would be shomer negiah and would not intentionally touch.
I believe these chumras are d'rabbonin enacted as fences to prevent pre-marital sex and the possible results thereof.
this also applies to married people who should not touch those of the opposite sex to whom they are not married or are a close relative to.
Nidda restrictions are d'oraisa as the transmittal to tumah is involved.
2007-08-23 05:14:35 · answer #3 · answered by mzJakes 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jewish law states that once a young woman begins menstruating, she assumes the status of nidah, and remains, from that point on, "off limits", in regard to physical contact with men, until the day of her marriage. Just prior to her marriage ceremony she removes the nidah status, in accordance with Jewish law, by immersing herself in the waters of a mikveh (a body of water used only for spiritual sanctification), and may then be approached by her husband. As a married woman she becomes nidah once again with each onset of a menstrual period, and marital relations must then be suspended until she immerses herself, once more, in a mikveh, at least one week after the completion of each menstrual period.
About the origins of the strictures--I'm not sure.
2007-08-23 04:56:38 · answer #4 · answered by Mark S, JPAA 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
It is called "Shomer Negiah" and it forbids touch with the opposite sex. My uncle is orthodox and my sister went to go shake his hand (we had not seen him in a very long time) but he was not allowed to touch her. This is usually just with orthodox, hasidic and other very observant Jews. However, there are those in the Conservative movement that I know that are also Shomer Negiah.
2007-08-23 04:43:56 · answer #5 · answered by future_jewish_public_defender 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is the custom of observant Jews not to touch the opposite sex unless they are family. A future husband or wife is not family, yet. Its not very complicated.
2007-08-23 04:52:48 · answer #6 · answered by emesshalom 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jewish men & Jewish woman supposedly are not allowed to have ANY fiscal contact before marriage, but this is with the really religious ones who supposedly “practice this”
I guess in all religions, we would like to marry as/with a virgin girl
2007-08-23 04:45:25 · answer #7 · answered by sara76c 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No contact. This will offset the balance of the universe and end our planet's existence in exactly 40 minutes after first contact is established. And how will you live with yourself for those 40 minutes after this happens?
2007-08-23 04:45:20 · answer #8 · answered by Ilya S 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋
If a Religion follows the teachings of the Bible.....it says "no fornication". Fornication is sexual intimacy outside of marriage.
2007-08-23 04:42:54 · answer #9 · answered by daljack -a girl 7 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Well, it sure sounds like Mary and the guy in the sky had extra-marital sex....
2007-08-23 04:46:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋