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May siblings of the opposite sex that share only one parent be secluded (yichud) with one another? Does it matter which parent they share?

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i couldn't tell the difference between the family members and kerovim tags so i used both – alltheinterwebs Jun 25 '12 at 19:38
alltheinterwebs, welcome to Mi Yodeya and thanks for your interesting question. Please consider registering your account, which will give you access to more of the site's features. – msh210♦ Jun 25 '12 at 21:09

2 Answers

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Nitei Gavriel (Hilchot Yichud, chapter 3, halacha 11, footnote 14) brings several opinions (including R' Moshe) that all half-siblings have the same halachot as full siblings. This is what the Nitei Gavriel says in the halacha as well.

He then brings that R' Eliyashev says only half-siblings on the mother's side are considered like full siblings. The reason given is that they have a natural feeling of love to one another (that I'm assuming is more than the natural feeling of love half-siblings on the father's side share).

The Nitei Gavriel (I think) then concludes that it really only applies if the half-siblings grew up together (I think he is saying all the opinions hold this). My understanding is that if they have not grown up together than there is no familial bond felt between them, and therefore they are treated as strangers with regards to Yichud.

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1) Would RYSE hold that full siblings who grew up apart have a problem with yichud? 2) Aren't paternal half-siblings much more strongly connected familialy per halacha (yibbum, yerusha etc.)? – Double AA♦ Jun 26 '12 at 4:20
Ahh thanks for clarifying. My first question still holds though on the Nitei Gavriel and the second on still holds on RYSE – Double AA♦ Jun 26 '12 at 4:27
@DoubleAA: I didn't check the source referenced, so I don't know exactly what he says. I clarified the third paragraph. I understood that statement to be the Nitei Gavriel's regarding all the opinions. I understand Yichud between siblings to be separate from other familial halachot. In footnotes 1 and 2 of halacha 1, the Nitei Gavriel brings many opinions of why siblings are different than mothers/daughters and strangers. hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=46544&pgnum=56 . One may temporarily do Yichud with a sister because the Yetzer Harah is not as strong towards sisters... – Menachem Jun 26 '12 at 4:34
...The Nitei Gavriel (I think. I updated the answer to reflect that) is saying that the halachic authorities who say this also applies to half-siblings only say the Yetzer Harah is weakened if they grew up together. If not, the fact that they are strangers who are not fully related means that their attraction will not be lessoned with the knowledge that they are related. – Menachem Jun 26 '12 at 4:37
@DoubleAA: It would definitely be beneficial to look up RYSE's statement in the "‫תורת‬ ‫היחוד‬" and see exactly what he says. – Menachem Jun 26 '12 at 4:40
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up vote 4 down vote

http://www.sichosinenglish.org/books/the-laws-of-yichud/05.htm

See Beis Shmuel, Even HoEzer 22:1. The permissibility of Yichud of a brother and sister includes half-brothers and half-sisters — Dvar Halachah Hosafos Chadashos 2; Divrei Sofrim Emek Davar 56. However, there is a prohibition of Yichud with a step-brother or step-sister.

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