Reply To: wording to decline a hand shake?

on the ball- I have briefly reviewed the meforshim on this possuk. Clearly, the Rambam considers this possuk (ISH,ISH, lo sikrevu) as a “lav” on just “Chibbuk venishuk” (hugging.etc)and the chinuch follows his way. However, other Poskim do not consider this a lav on just “negiah”. The Ramban clearly considers this a ‘derabbonom”(see his perush on chumash and the Chinuch) The Ibn Ezra clearly interprets this possuk as relevant only to a real relationship. SO, you do have a good source for equating women to men in this matter but it is not as one sided as you think.