Sending Presents to women

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May a man send a present to a woman?

One is to avoid sending gifts to a widow or any single woman.[1] Likewise, some Poskim[2] rule one is to avoid sending gifts to a married woman due to Sheilas Shalom.[3] However, when doing so without any intent of affection, such as out of business practice or for a relative, one may be lenient to send gifts to a woman.[4]

 

[1] Rama 695/4 regarding Mishloach Manos that men may not send to women as this may lead to sending to a widow [or any single woman-Yifei Levav 5/8] which will cause there to be a question of betrothal. [Rama ibid] The reason this will cause a question of betrothal is because people will think he is sending her the gifts because she is already engaged to him. [M”A 695/15]

[2] Betzeil Hachochmah 5/51

[3] The reason: Just as the Sages forbade Sheilas Shalom to a woman [E.H. 21/6] and an Avel [Y.D. 385], so too they forbade sending gifts to an Avel [Rama 696/6] and the same should apply to a woman. [ibid] Vetzaruch Iyun as if so then the Rama should have prohibited sending Mishloach Manos to the opposite gender on Purim due to this reason and not due to a questionable betrothal. See Betzeil Hachochmah for his answer on this subject.

[4] Betzeil hachochmah ibid

The reason: As today we are lenient even regaridng Sheilas Shalom to a woman, and certainly here regarding a present. [ibid]

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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