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Yichud with Husband in Town

I know a therapist for young children that does therapy in children’s homes. Does one have to be concerned about yichud in the following cases that sometimes occur:

a) The gentile child’s mother and father are home. Does having a wife around apply to Gentiles.

If only the gentile husband is home
b) The therapists husband is technichally in the same city but not going to ever stop in. Can one rely upon the words of the shulchan Aruch about a husband being in town (seemingly even if the husband isn’t going to stop in)If not, what is the best option advice to follow. Should the therapist just say that her religion doesn’t allow for this situation?

c)If one is unsure who is at home. For instance, the mother of the child may be sleeping and the father is around. Must the therapist inquire about the whereabouts of the mother?

d)If the wife tells the therapist I’m running to the store and I’ll be back soon, can the therapist rely on the fact that she may be back at any moment?

E) If a male therapist, plans on doing therapy in homes with young children where often a mother is only around, what is the best way to avoid yichud problems?

Thank you for help, and I hope the Rav had a great Channukah

Answer:

A similar question was asked recently, and the added details in this question seem to refer to the question of the husband being in town.

A husband’s being in town only helps for a place where he might drop in, such as home or his wife’s office. For a place where he certainly won’t come in, the husband’s being in town doesn’t help, and this will apply here. See Iggros Moshe, Even Ha-Ezer 4:65 (21).

In addition, some authorities hold that a husband “in town” only serves as a deterrent when the wife is meeting the man without the husband’s knowledge. If, however, they are meeting with his permission [either in her home or elsewhere] then the wife will not be as deterred by her husband’s being in town (see Binas Adam 126:27). Other poskim, however, do not agree with this stringency (Chida, Chazon Ish). The Iggros Moshe rules that while it is appropriate to be stringent, but that under extenuating circumstances one can be lenient.

Thanks for the wishes, which are warmly reciprocated – and sorry for the delay in answering.

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