Negiah

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Halakhic sources
Note: Not meant as a definitive ruling. Some observances may be rabbinical, or customs, or Torah based.
Texts in Jewish law relating to this article:
Bible:	Leviticus 18:6
Mishnah:
Babylonian Talmud:	Sabbath 13a
Jerusalem Talmud:
Mishneh Torah:	Kedushah (Holiness), Issurei Biah (forbidden sexual relations), 21:1-7
Shulkhan Arukh:	Even HaEzer 21

Negiah (נגיעה meaning "contact" or "connection" or "touch" in Hebrew) is the concept in Jewish law (Halakha) that restricts (or forbids) physical contact with, or touching of, a member of the opposite sex (particularly in an erotic manner), except for one's spouse, and immediate family (children and parents). A person who abides by this code of conduct is colloquially described as a shomer negiah ("observant [of] negiah") or, more informally, is shomer ("guards" or "keeps" the law).

This law is mentioned in the Talmud (Tractate Sabbath 12:2) and is codified in the Shulkhan Arukh ("Code of Jewish Law") Even Ha'ezer 21.

Like most laws, the prohibition of negiah is waived to save a person who is in life-threatening danger.

Physicians and dentists may touch members of the opposite sex in the course of their practice.

[edit] Relations with non-Jews

Some non-Jews may feel offended or slighted when meeting a person of the opposite sex who is observant of negiah as they may not observe what are considered normal social conventions such as handshaking. However, if understood in the context of negiah, shalom bayit, tzeniut, and yichud, the absence of the social convention should be interpreted as a sign of respect for the non-Jewish person they are meeting and for the Jewish person's spouse.