Monday, June 20, 2022

Chaperone Culture - Orthodox Judaism

“Orthodox Jews are at home a lot.”

 

My mom’s friend alerted her, upon discovering that I was embracing this lifestyle.

 

“I almost peed out the window.” - Read to the end for an explanation.

 

Yichud - seclusion - is forbidden.

 

No dating, no attending places where people are clothed modestly, and this includes pools, beaches and lakes. If there are no separate swimming hours or separate areas for men and women, we do not swim.

 

No parties.

 

No suggestive music.

 

No sleepovers unless there is a great need, say, an emergency, then everyone is kept separate and supervised.

 

Orthodox Jews have a chaperone culture. Any who are permitted to marry must be chaperoned. The closest permissible marriage is a niece and uncle or nephew and aunt. This degree relative, first cousins, second cousins, and anyone unrelated of course must be chaperoned.

 

Even on a Saturday afternoon, if a boy grandchild age 10 and a girl grandchild age 11 are visiting: do not take a nap, you must chaperone them.

 

No allowing kids above age say 9, or maybe 11, to  mix socially.

 

A girl from age 3 cannot be alone with a  boy or man from age 12.

 

Three. That’s right. Three. A three year old and older girl must be chaperoned.

 

“I almost peed out the window.”

 

David was visiting his Rabbi and wife. He slept over on our Sabbath. The next morning, he tried to open his bedroom door. It was locked! He had to go to the bathroom! What was he to do? The sound of hurrying footsteps up the stairs came to the rescue and the Rabbi opened David’s guest bedroom door.

 

“Hope this was not an inconvenience, I was called out to an emergency and could not leave you alone with my wife, and I did not want to awaken you, so I locked you in your bedroom so there would be no yichud (seclusion).”

 

David made a bee line for the bathroom.


No comments:

Post a Comment