Igros Moshe (E.H. IV #65.22): Question What is the minimum time that yichud is prohibited? Answer Acording to Chazal it is the time it takes for sexual intercourse (Sotah 4), however time needs to be added to this for additional preparations such as getting undressed and getting dressed and also time for seduction if they are strangers and thus it is difficult to state a definite amount of time. Nevertheless even with a woman who is easily seduced the time of prohibited yichud is much more than the time for intercourse even if she is not Jewish who also require seduction. This is true even if she is a prostitute. . . Thus the amount of time prohibited is much greater than the all the times spent traveling between floors in an elevator even in a building of 25 floors. However with a non-Jewish woman controlling the elevator who we assume is licentious and with whom he is already familiar he should not take long trips with her in the elevator. However this is not a common situation. If there are two women in the elevator than yichud is not prohibited since we are not concerned he might seduce both of them in a short time and therefore there will not be transgression even with one of the two women .
Igros Moshe (EH IV #65.16) Question Is yichud always prohibited? Answer There is no prohibition unless if lasts longer than the time prohibited. However in an elevator if someone enters who thinks any amount of time is prohibited than yichud would be prohibited. In such a case the only permitted case would be where there are already two women in the elevator and one leaves even if there is less than the minimal time. This is a problem also for tall buildings of many floors with an elevator . If a man is alone in the elevator with a woman, than going one floor is not a problem. The prohibition of yichud with an unmarried woman is only Rabbinic and the decree against yichud is only if there is enough time for intercourse. For anything less than this time there is no prohibition of yichud .
If you can't get into an elevator and be alone with a woman in the time it takes to move a few floors, you don't need to worry about yichud. You need medical therapy.
ReplyDeletein a public building or office building, where anyone may enter and leave the elevator , and you don't know which floor it will stop on... except if someone inside has pressed a button (on digital buttons).
ReplyDeleteit adds an extra impediment.