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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@saber.towson.edu>
Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 22:59:42 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Do modesty prohibitions prevent sin or create borders

Moshe Feldman (Volume 29 Number 99) writes
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
3. I would add that other halachot mentioned in se'if 5 (such as
she'elat shalom [sending a greeting] to a woman) are dependent upon
social mores.  If one does something out of the ordinary, this is likely
to create sexual urges.  In a society where public affection is rarely
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The suggestion that eg saying HELLO to a married woman (when you
don't ordinarily say HELLO) creates "sexual urges" seems a little
bit of an exaggeration.

Rabbi Friedman in his book "Doesn't anyone blush anymore" suggests
that many of these halacoth (including even Yichud) can be "better"
understood using the concept of "borders". To quote Rabbi Friedman
the reason say "Moshe Rabbaynu" and "Sarah Imothainu" can't have Yichud
is not because we are worried they would sin, but rather, the reason is
to create borders for their sexuality thereby increasing there sense of
modesty.

I would similarly say here...if you don't normally say HELLO but you
say HELLO to a married woman we are not worried about sin or even
arousal, rather we are concerned that you have broken your borders
of modesty

Russell Jay Hendel; Phd ASA; rjhendel@juno.com
Moderator Rashi Is Simple; http://www.shamash.org/rashi/