Question:
How do we establish the exact level of "fear" of someone coming into the house in order to apply the halachic principle of פתח פתוח which would permit a "yichud" situation? Does the man need to actually think that someone may be coming in or is it enough for him to have a doubt of whether of not someone may come it?
Answer:
Hello,
The level is that the person has a fear that someone might come in, even if it is only a doubt. If you know that no one will come in (there is no one around at that time or in that area) then the heter of פתח פתוח לרשות הרבים will not apply.
Best wishes
