Shomer negia for aunt and nephew

Question

Is the prohibition of shomer negia applicable between aunt and nephew? Can you please provide sources?

Answer 1

The prohibition contact applies between an aunt and nephew Rambam Issurei Biah 21,6 and Shulchan Aruch Even Haezer 21,7:

המחבק אחת מן העריות שאין לבו של אדם נוקפו עליהן או שנשק לאחת מהן כגון אחותו הגדולה ואחות אמו וכיוצא בהן אע"פ שאין שם תאוה ולא הנאה כלל הרי זה מגונה ביותר ודבר אסור הוא ומעשה טפשים הוא. שאין קריבין לערוה כלל בין גדולה בין קטנה חוץ מהאם לבנה והאב לבתו
Someone who embraces or kisses a close relative for whom he has no natural attraction, e.g A sister or an aunt (Mothers sister etc.) this is forbidden still very repellent hence forbidden and unsavoury people do such things. There is no allowance for closeness other than for a mother to a son or a father to a daughter (and obviously a man to his wife when she is not Niddah).

It must be noted that the Gra says the Shulchan Aruch and Rambam meant no touching whatsoever

אפילו שום קורבה

Answer 2

The Shulchan Aruch (Even Haezer 21:7) addresses this:

המחבק או המנשק אחת מהעריות שאין לבו של אדם נוקפו עליהם כגון אחותו הגדולה ואחות אביו וכיוצא בהם אע"פ שאין לו שום הנאה כלל הרי זה מגונה ביותר ודבר איסור הוא ומעשה טפשים

To hug or kiss one of the arayos whom people do not normally lust after, such as his adult sister or his aunt or similar, even though he derives no pleasure at all, is very reprehensible, forbidden, and the act of a fool.

Seems to be an open and shut case.

However

In the English sefer Halacha 24/7/12 (page 404), the author (Rabbi Aharon E. Marcus) notes:

However some contend that if the relatives will be very offended and there's absolutely no sensual thoughts involved at all, then there may be room to take a hug passively.

(see Be'er Hetev 21:12, Chelkas Mechokek 21:8, and Rav Chaim Pinchas Scheinberg quoted in "A Gadol in our Midst", page 211)

Bottom Line: the answer seems to be a hard no, unless the aunt would get VERY offended, in which case perhaps a passive hug would seem to be allowed.

To be completely safe, should probably also CYLOR.