To feel a bit miffed about "I can't shake hands with women for religious reasons"

[Hopefullyrecovering]

Which is what was said to me today, in a work context.

I have never heard of this before and googled it and apparently it is true that certain very orthodox forms of religion prohibit men shaking women's hands.

So I am torn between my inner liberal need for religious toleration, and thinking it's a damnfool sort of religion that prohibits a man from shaking a woman's hand and not just a little bit sexist too.

So, AIBU to feel miffed?

So it's not a tight knit community then Mrs?

Hmm, my apologies again MRs...I had meant insular in the loyal/togetherness/tight knit sense not the illiberal/narrow minded way.

Cross posted.... again my apologies I can imagine both my tone as well as language conveyed a nice racist overtone.

do you get kosher champagne? i saw kosher wine in the supermarket, i didnt quite get it tbh?

I'm glad you two are talking... I think I saw kosher champers in Selfridges.

I don't consider alcohol a sin either, hey we have something in common!!

[hiccup]

you can get kosher champers - there's a Laurent Perrier kosher version, and others.

I'm a bit perplexed as to why people are so upset that someone doesn't want to/can't shake hands (but then I'm Jewish and used to not offering my hand to be shaken by men and vice versa, so yeah). And as MrsMicawber said - it goes both ways. I could arguably go into a meeting and tell the men I don't shake their hands and shake the women's hands.

Check out kosherwines.com. I am sure I've bought some for events. Its not great though.

And no, wine shouldd never be a sin. Beer though, yeurch!c

A LP version? I need to check that out! Purely for research purposes.

Tah dah!

To those who think that it is silly that the handshake can be seen as the first stage of potentially sexual contact: it is true, I bet, that peoples who observe the no-handshake rule have a lot less casual and / or extra marital sex than those who don't. If you think it is really, really important that extra marital sex doesn't happen then maybe you would be wise to promote that rule. I bet all the people saying "pshaw not gonna happen" also think it kind of doesn't matter if sometimes it does, and have slept with more than one person. Not that I am saying there is anything wrong with that. But if you do...

However, in the workplace you absolutely have to shake hands with everyone or no one. Religions do not come from a background of sexual equality. Neither does our secular culture. A handshake is a traditional gesture of trust and honesty and traditionally handshaking was unnecessary between sexes because you didn't expect to do business with the other one. This is a relic of that time and must be regarded as unacceptable if we think it is acceptable for women to be in the workplace.

It does go on but is more secrative!

I actually quite like not having to shake other people's hands all the time (weirdo). I'm not a fan of touching or being touched by strangers.

I'd hate to think what it's like being shomer negillah in France and refusing to kiss people every three seconds.

When did women start shaking hands in this country anyway? I find it odd to shake hands as so many people just offer a limp, flappy hand.

The look you get in France, as a woman, offering your hand for a shake when you meet someone is quite something. Kissing everyone and their mother is de rigeur

I have rheumatoid arthritis and hate shaking hands as it hurts. If I refuse I am seen as rude, if I explain why I am giving personal medical info out to ask and sundry, so I usually just grimace and bear it. I think if a religion does not allow hand shaking this is fine anf shouldn't upset anyone... It is not personal.