- Q. I met an older couple at shul that I call by their first names. Subsequently, the wife developed dementia and had to be put in a home. Her husband would like to take her to the family cottage and needs assistance to dress her, change her diaper, etc. I am experienced doing this so he has asked me if I would be willing to do this for pay.
I am wondering if this would be a ‘Yichud’ (secluding prohibition) issue since even though they are a married couple, we will be out of town and she is not fully cognizant of the situation. I am not sure if there will be other family members there to mitigate the situation. Would asking a girlfriend to join us work to avoid Yichud or do you have any other suggestions?
A. On question 2666 regarding an elderly person confined to his home, used to have a male attendant taking care of his needs, for a few hours a day. Due to the virus crisis, he quit, and now the only available help is a woman. He is very concerned for the issues of yichud with her. Is it permitted that while she is with him, he should turn on his phone and call a friend while the phone camera is on, so the friend can check on him from time to time?
Is that permitted equally in other situations of yichud, such as an office, for men and for women also?
To what we answered. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that it is permitted in both cases. See similar questions 346, 828, 2469 and 2252.
On question 3294 regarding if it is permitted to be an Uber driver if one has to drive women passengers at night in deserted streets. due
How about a woman taking a similar ride even on a taxi. is that permitted?
To what we answered; “Indeed it is a difficult situation to solve. Even during daytime the Uber car should not have tinted windows.
However, there is relief if the Uber driver places a video camera in his vehicle, as is common in similar situations.
On question 828 we wrote: “Horav Nissim Karelitz Shlit”a (quoted in Moriah-Elul 5771 p.146) maintains that security cameras are to be regarded as an open door to the street in regards to the Yichud prohibition, which the Node Beyihuda (E.H. 71) permits. He mentions that they do not have to be scrutinized on real time, as long as there is a possibility that the tape (or digital recording) could later be seen, it is an effective deterrent.
Minchas Ish (p. 267) permits Yichud inside the safe deposit-box room in banks, due to the presence of security cameras. See also Nitey Gavriel (Yichud 45: 8 – p 283). See also questions 2666, 2252 and 2288.
As far as a woman traveling in a Taxi or an Uber in those conditions, we wrote in a similar question (828): “Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit'a has advised on similar situations to take your cell phone with you and leave it with the camera on facing you, while a friend is checking on you.”
You should follow the above in your case.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller, Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu and Horav Kalman Ochs Shlit'a
Important Numbers
