Joining his many colleagues this past week, MK (Likud) Moshe Feiglin had his chance to deliver his first-ever Knesset address. For many frum listeners Feiglin’s address was not accompanied by any surprises, but what did elicit comment were his actions, as he was seen shaking hands with female MKs following his address, a customary act in Knesset, but not for a shomer Shabbos MK such as himself.
In response to some criticism and bewilderment on dati leumi websites and forums, Feiglin released the following statement.
“I used to not shake hands but then I learned that touch of courtesy is not prohibited, unlike a touch of affection. I feel that the walls that have been built between sectors of the nation, the inability to listen and connect with that which unites us threatens us far more than failing to heed a chumra. I consulted with my rav, and I act in line with his psak. Thank you for the important question.”
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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19 Responses
Its amazing that some of the DL websites ignored the significant policy questions addressed by MK Feiglin and instead showed their mindless fixation with trivia by questioning why he shook hands with some of his colleagues who happened to be women. He was elected to the Knesset to address the crisis in he economy of EY, the need for jobs growth, how to deal with Iran, etc. He is acting in accordance with the guidance of his rav. Many chashuve rabbonim disagree on shaking hands in a business context and you follow the advice of your own rav. Maybe we can move on and stop with this childish effort to find more issues to fight over.
if he spoke to his rav then ok he is allowed…but, not shaking hands was an understood matter and was not something that created barriers
This is a complex halocha issue which everyone must speak to their own rav about – to obtain guidance according to his circumstances. I hope that people who don’t know halocha won’t use this site to demonstrate how little halocha they know.
What is next? Dancing with women
the chazon ish held it’s yeharag v’al yaavor
“I consulted with my rav, and I act in line with his psak.”
Who is his Rav?
The Chazon Ish paskened the issur of shaking a woman’s hand is yeherag val yaavor. Rav Moshe writes that it borders on giluy arayos and any so-called heter due to non derech chiba cannot be relied on.
It’s not important who his Daas Torah is. That’s between him and his Rav. Everyone has to ask their own Shailohs.
The question is not whether he shook hands with women (and the only real issue would be if he was shaking hands with his wife in public), but that he appears to be boasting about and emphasizing it in order to appeal to secular voters.
First, he said he consulted his Rav.
Second, there are respected halachic opinions that permit this when there is no derech chiba concerns.
#6, is that really any of your business? I doubt he would be interested in asking about your Rav.
There is a difference between acting this way in a business environment (as #1 mentioned) or in the knesset. In business it’s a private matter and whatever his rov paskened is acceptable. In the knesset in public he is making problems for other politicians who want to be machmir (or whose rov paskened lechumra), since many of the secular (knesset members or journalists of others) won’t understand the difference.
So the question is whether this was also asked to his rov, or did he just ask him generally, perhaps before being elected altogether.
One of the vivid stories in the sho’a that I can never forget is when a gadol was on his knees surrounded by yiden forced to watch the monsterous acts of the natzim Ym”s. A natzi held a rifle to the Gadol forehead a gave him a choice to eat pork and live or refuse and die. The Gadol knew this halacha very well. If he was in a closed room with no yidden watching him, then it is a mitzvah to survive (pikuach nefesh), he would eat the pork and live (making tshuvah at the very same moment). But since the Gadol was surrounded and many Yidden would learn from his actions (even though it was considered to be pikuach nefesh), the Rav knew the halacha and died on kidush Hashem. I am not a posek nor am I Rav, but it is known that when a person is in view of the tzibur and the tzibur watches the actions of someone who may be considered to be in the level of a “leader” (le’havdil), than in my humble opinion his Rav did not pasken correctly as many people will take his psak to their own likings and this will create catastrophic results. Sounds to me like it may be a conservative rav….. no??????
#4 (HoRav) – there’s a huge halachic difference between the 2. As he (and many others) have pointed out, there’s a halachic difference between b’derech chibah and lo’ b’derech chibah.
#5 (marbehshalom) – Please bring a source of your comment for Feiglin’s specific situation. I don’t believe the chazon ish was asked this specific question. Also, there are halachic opinions who disagree. Feiglin has discussed this with his Rav.
#6 (Joe Yeshivish) – Not you!
#6: Why do you need to know that information?
article itself is lashon hara alot worse than shaking hands.. most rabanim allow shaking hands if it will cause a chulul hashem or even slight comfortableness…
His Rov is probably, quite rightly so, viewing this as “Oseq biMelachto” just like a Dr. has to touch someone of opposite gender because of Oseq biMelachto, hence Mr. Feiglin is pursuing peace KaHalocho.
To Joe Yeshivish #6
I am happy that you consulted with you rav, and that you follow his p’sak. I hope that your question, “Who is his Rav,” is not meant to disparage either MK Faiglin or his rav.
The next step is to explain how dancing is also not a derech chiba.