Consoling a Mourning Woman by a Man
This question and answer were automatically translated using our trained AI and have not yet been reviewed by a qualified rabbi. Please treat this translation with caution.
go to original →
Question
Can a man console a woman, and a woman console a man?
Answer
According to the basic law, there is no prohibition for a man to console a woman, and likewise for a woman to console a man. It is appropriate for him to stand at the entrance and say "May the Omnipresent console you," rather than sitting and engaging in conversation.
Source
In Shulchan Aruch, section 378, paragraph 2, it is written that if a woman is in mourning, men should not console her, and this specifically refers to consolation that involves close contact. However, for consolation, we do not find a source prohibiting it in times of need. And the Gaon, Rabbi Zalman Sorotzkin, z"l (the Chief Rabbi of Brisk), although he did not enter the room, nevertheless stood at the entrance and said "May the Omnipresent console you among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem," and therefore, if the consoler has any acquaintance with the women, it is appropriate to do likewise, to stand only at the entrance and console.