05-01-2009, 03:02 PM
(This post was last modified: 05-01-2009, 03:32 PM by Director Michael.)
Sorry for the confusion:
No. It says that Gentiles of the opposite gender may "shake hands, or even kiss lightly on the cheek, as a form of greeting in public," if it is the custom in the society, without regard to either's marital status, to do so.
No. There is no one who a Gentile woman is "strictly forbidden" to merely touch. A Gentile woman is "strictly forbidden" (meaning, it is a capital sin) to commit adultery or incest as defined in the Noahide Code. The categories of other touching that she "may not" do as mentioned above are additional precepts that a righteous and G-d fearing person should observe.
The posts above are saying that:
(a) a Gentile woman may "shake hands, or even kiss lightly on the cheek, as a form of greeting in public," if it is the custom in the society, regardless of either's marriage status, to do so. (Of course a woman may choose to be more strict, and not shake hands or kiss as a greeting.)
(b) if a Gentile woman is married, she should only engage in more extensive friendly touching with other men (e.g. friendly hugging) if they are her immediate family members - father, grandfather, son, grandson, and brother (with discretion).
It is not a problem if a married woman gives a friendly hug to a boy if he is under the age of 9.
Joachim ben Noach Wrote:Does it first say that any two persons of the opposite gender may indeed express the courtesy of a handshake or hug, regardless of either's marriage status?
No. It says that Gentiles of the opposite gender may "shake hands, or even kiss lightly on the cheek, as a form of greeting in public," if it is the custom in the society, without regard to either's marital status, to do so.
Joachim ben Noach Wrote:Does it then go on to say that a married woman is strictly forbidden to touch anyone but those specific relatives you outlined?
No. There is no one who a Gentile woman is "strictly forbidden" to merely touch. A Gentile woman is "strictly forbidden" (meaning, it is a capital sin) to commit adultery or incest as defined in the Noahide Code. The categories of other touching that she "may not" do as mentioned above are additional precepts that a righteous and G-d fearing person should observe.
The posts above are saying that:
(a) a Gentile woman may "shake hands, or even kiss lightly on the cheek, as a form of greeting in public," if it is the custom in the society, regardless of either's marriage status, to do so. (Of course a woman may choose to be more strict, and not shake hands or kiss as a greeting.)
(b) if a Gentile woman is married, she should only engage in more extensive friendly touching with other men (e.g. friendly hugging) if they are her immediate family members - father, grandfather, son, grandson, and brother (with discretion).
It is not a problem if a married woman gives a friendly hug to a boy if he is under the age of 9.