Dear Rabbi Simon,
When a woman is offered a handshake by a man in a professional setting, are there ever circumstances that would override the prohibition with regards to touching ? For example, if the male in question has just suffered something of an embarrassing nature and then proceeds to extend his hand to a female – would she be permitted to respond in kind out of compassion and as not to add ‘insult to the injury’? We assume that the man in question is oblivious to the prohibition of touching which is generally applicable.
Many thanks and kind regards
Hindi
Dear Hindi,
Thank you for your question. This subject is hotly debated in the halakhic literature. My view is that, in the western world, there are grounds to be lenient in a professional setting, where a handshake is regarded simply as a social convention.
Best wishes,
Rabbi Rashi Simon