Q&A: Massage for a Man by a Woman
Massage for a Man by a Woman
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I received a voucher for a massage from my reserve duty. I have no medical need, God forbid, only for release of tension and mental relaxation.
I very much want the massage, but I feel very uncomfortable with a man touching me in that way.
I wondered whether it is permissible to receive a massage from a woman. On the one hand, this is plainly not affectionate touch. For example, one could also choose a woman who is not young, so that most likely there would not be lustful thoughts.
On the other hand, there is some intuition that says this is not an appropriate situation (perhaps there is also an issue of seclusion), and after all, the reason it is unpleasant for me to receive a massage from a man is that the event apparently does have some subtext beyond meaningless touch (otherwise what is the difference).
So I wondered: is this permissible and appropriate?
Answer
I am not familiar with what exactly this situation is like, but at first glance I am not sure there is a prohibition here (it depends whether it would arouse improper thoughts in you), but I would not do it. At most, you can give up the massage.
And the reverse—would it be permissible for a man to give a massage (Swedish, French, Lomi Lomi, concepts of different kinds of massage that I learned in Dr. Liston's college) to a woman? And likewise, what is the ruling regarding doing tantra between the two sexes?