touching

Question

Where is the source for the prohibition of sister and brother touching in a social way? This is something I do practice but I would like to explain the above if need be to friends or family. Thank you!

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

Gemara Shabbat 13a Ramba"m Issurey Biah Perek #21 Halachah #6 Tur & Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer #21:7 Not much room for confusion. They want a source why it is not allowed. Now you ask them for a source why it is allowed. They'll say, "people do it." Great source! So we follow a religion of what the "people do." And if you want to differ from that, you better have a good source, which wouldn't help anyway, because "people do" is a much stronger source. Strange!? But they wear a black hat and somehow God will just have to overlook some of the modifications made. Good luck! AA