Note: These Halachos are just as important for men to learn and know, as they are for women.
...Continued from previous week
1) Most Poskim agree that a woman may be alone [in the city] with two [G-d fearing] Jewish men, as each of the men is assumed to be embarrassed to do anything inappropriate in the presence of the other man. (Rama Even HaEzer Siman 22:5, Shu"t Noda B'Yehuda Mahadura Kama Even HaEzer Siman 69, Biur HaGra Even Haezer 22:11, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 152:3 and others. If it is outside of the city, it is only permitted if her husband is also present.)
Most Jewish men who keep Torah and Mitzvos and aren't known as Prutzim (people who don't take Mitzvah observance, especially in the realm of Tznius, seriously) are assumed to be G-d fearing. (See Shu"t Rashba Vol. 1 Siman 587, Biur HaGra ibid. See also Igros Moshe Even HaEzer Vol. 4 Siman 65:17 where Rav Moshe Zatzal rules that even someone who is a kosher Jew that never sinned with a woman, but is not confident that he can control himself from sinning with a woman were the opportunity to arise, is also considered "Parutz" for matters of Yichud.)
However, if the men are Prutzim, a woman may not be alone with them no matter how many men are present. (See Rama Even HaEzer Siman 22:10 where he says "10 men". The Poskim however say that the Rama didn't mean only up to 10, rather he meant with any amount of men. See also Talmud Yerushalmi Kidushin Perek 4 Halacha 11 where the Gemara says "even 100 men" present still remains Yichud)
2) If only one of the 2 men is a "Parutz", or if one is a G-d fearing Jew and the other is An Aino Yehudi (who is always considered a "Parutz"), the Poskim debate if Yichud in this case is permitted. It is best to be stringent, unless in cases of dire necessity. (See Shu"t Shav Yaakov Siman 19, Sefer Hamakneh Kidushin 80b Dibur Hamaschil V'rabanan and Dibur Hamaschil Od Yesh Lomar and Shu"t Maharil Diskin Pesakim Siman 2)
A Jewish woman may not be alone with 2 Aino-Yehudi men.
3) Two G-d fearing males may be alone with a woman, even if she is Aino Yehudi or even if she is a Prutzah, as we assume that each of the men will be too embarrassed to do anything inappropriate in front of the other man, regardless of the woman's intentions. (See Shu"t MaHaril Diskin Psakim Siman 2 Dibur Hamaschil Rishona and Shu"t Shav Yaakov Siman 19)
4) The leniency of one woman allowed to be alone with 2 men is only during the day time hours.
5) During the night time hours (starting from when it is usual for the men to go to sleep), three men will be required in order to eliminate the problem of Yichud. (See Rama Even HaEzer Siman 22:5, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 152:3, Aruch HaShulchan Even HaEzer Siman 22:8 and Chazon Ish Hilchos Ishus Siman 30:3 Dibur Hamaschil V'Nireh. Regarding if this applies to situations of Yichud D'Rabanan as well: see Igros Moshe Even HaEzer Vol. 1 Siman 61. See also Shu"t Chasam Sofer Even HaEzer Vol. 2 Siman 96)
The reason for this is that with only 2 men, we are afraid that one of them will fall asleep and thus she will end up alone with the remaining man. (See Ra'avad in sefer Ba'alei Hanefesh Sha'ar Haprisha Siman 1:23. See also Bais Shmuel on Shulchan Aruch Siman 22 S"K 9)
6) If the men are only visiting the woman in her home, and plan to return to their own homes to go to sleep, then even during the night time hours, 2 men are enough to remove any Yichud problems as we don't worry about one of them falling asleep.
All of the above is even in cases where Libam Gas Ba, and even if their occupations are around women, as since they are G-d fearing Jews we assume that they will be too embarrassed to sin in front of each other.
7) When a woman is traveling with men in a remote area where there aren't many people in the streets or on the roads, even during the day, three men are required to be present in order for there not to be a Yichud problem. (See Gemara Kidushin 80a and Rashi there that explains that if only two men are present, one of them may need to leave the group to use the restroom, and thus leave the woman and the remaining man alone, and thus it would be Yichud as no other people are around. See Rama Even HaEzer Siman 22:5)
Even though a woman may be alone with 2 men, it doesn't work in the reverse and a man may not be alone with 2 women. (Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer Siman 22:5)
8) If three women are present, there is a debate in the Rishonim if that is an acceptable deterrent for the man. (Rashi Kidushin 82a Dibur Hamaschil Lo Yisyached allows it. See also Shu"t Divrei Malkiel Vol. 4 Siman 102 Dibur HaMaschil V'Hinay B'Ish. See also Shu"t Rashba Vol. 1 Siman 587. The Ram"a 22:5 brings this opinion as a "Yesh Matirim". Tosefos ibid. and Rambam Hilchos Isurei Biah Perek 22:8 prohibit it, and this is how the Shulchan Aruch 22:5 rules.)
According to most Poskim, it is best to be stringent and even when three women are present; one man should not be alone with them. In cases of great necessity, a Rav should be consulted. (See Igros Moshe Even HaEzer Vol. 4 Siman 65:14)
...To be continued B’Ezras Hashem next week
