Negiah (Hebrew: נגיעה), In english: "touch", is the concept in Jewish law (Halakha) that forbids or restricts sensual physical contact with a member of the opposite sex except for one's spouse, outside the niddah period, and certain close relatives to whom one is presumed not to have sexual attraction.
Many Jews with Orthodox beliefs believe that there is extensive room for leniency and that strict adherence to these rules stunts development and prevents social success and ultimately undermines well-being [citation needed].
[8] During the niddah period, even non-affectionate touch between husband and wife is forbidden;[9] however this is commonly referred to as a harchaka (הרחקה, "distancing") rather than a case of being shomer negiah.
[12] Opinions differ on whether one may touch an adopted child of the opposite sex: R' Eliezer Waldenberg[13] and R' Hayim David HaLevi[14] permit, while R' Menachem Mendel Schneerson[15] prohibits.
These include the Chazon Ish,[28][29] Yaakov Yisrael Kanievsky,[30] Moshe Stern,[31] Yitzchak Abadi,[32] Sefer Hasidim (who prohibits even when wearing gloves),[28] and Yosef Hayyim.
[33] Rabbi Feinstein gives the benefit of the doubt to those who return a handshake, stating that they apparently hold that doing so is not derekh khiba v'taavah (דרך חבה ותאוה), but concludes that such leniency is difficult to rely upon.
[38] Likewise, Yehuda Henkin holds that it is permissible to shake a woman's hand according to "the basic halacha" (the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch), and that those who feel otherwise are stringent.
[20] Hershel Schachter quotes Chaim Berlin as saying that shaking hands with women is strictly speaking (me'ikar haddin) permitted, particularly if to do otherwise would make the Torah look bad,[39] and indicates that he agrees with this position.
[42] The Career Development Center at Yeshiva University, a Modern Orthodox institution, informs its students that "Shaking hands is a customary part of the interview process.
[44] Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson wrote that remaining firm in one's convictions when it comes to shaking hands with a woman can engender the respect of the other party.
The case of a woman whose offer of a handshake was politely declined by her real estate agent is discussed by the New York Times' "Ethicist" Randy Cohen.
[46] Orthodox rabbi and law professor Michael Broyde opined that in the case discussed by Cohen, the values of gender equality and of religious freedom are in conflict.