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  1. Assuming all laws of yichud are complied with, are there additional concerns arising from a male rabbi teaching Torah classes to a female student?
  2. Does the answer to 1 differ if they are both married, one married one not, or both single?
  3. How does one apply the mishneh in Pirkei Avos of not to engage in too much conversation with women to this situation?
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    Torah study is conversation?? The mishna says conversation that isn't Talmud Torah
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Mar 20, 2017 at 12:24
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    I don't think that question #3 is relevant to the other two questions unless you can show some relevance or explain your concern. You may want to ask that as a separate question. Also, please clarify if your concern is specific to an individual lesson or a rabbi teaching a class that has only women attending. (More than one.)
    – DanF
    Commented Mar 20, 2017 at 16:02
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    See this summary of R. Mazuz's view on the matter: ykr.org.il/modules/Ask/answer/10487. See also Rav Mazuz's own presentation of his position here: ykr.org.il/modules/Ask/answer/3137 and here: ykr.org.il/modules/Ask/answer/11985. He is dealing with lectures to multiple women. He says it is alright as long as they are generally modest, and men attending are separate from women (when applicable). He specifies that he should not lecture on taharat hamishpaha.
    – mevaqesh
    Commented Mar 20, 2017 at 19:56
  • #3 the gemarah in pesachim (i think) says that Bruriah Rabbi Meir's wife chastised Reb Yosi for saying extra words to her.
    – user13749
    Commented Mar 21, 2017 at 3:09
  • @mevaqesh If lecturing to a group of women would be prohibited, there would be no way that women could sit in shul on Shabbat listening to the rav's drasha - unless he talked only about baseball stats.
    – DanF
    Commented Mar 21, 2017 at 16:13

2 Answers 2

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Regarding question 3, I assume you are referring to Avot 1:5. The term used in the Mishnah is שיחה which loosely means "conversation" or "chatter". It does not refer to Torah talk. How can it refer to Divrei Torah if the end of the Mishnah says that one who engages in שיחה takes away from Divrei Torah? That would be paradoxical!

See Rav Bartenura's explanation to what type of "talk" this refers to. He mentions talking about bad things that occurred to him (a form of lashon hara) at the market or similar.

In short, the Mishnah in Avot doesn't seem relevant to your question.

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DailyHalacha.com says that so long as there are two or more ladies in a room that does not lock, or with the door open if there is a lock, or if his wife or mother are in the room a man may teach ladies.

Thus there are no additional concerns besides the Yichud concerns.

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    The question already assumed that "all laws of yichud are complied with". This answer just seems to discuss the laws of yichud.
    – Double AA ♦
    Commented Apr 21, 2017 at 15:20
  • Who wrote that on that website?
    – mevaqesh
    Commented Apr 21, 2017 at 18:31

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