Question

A female healthcare provider is meeting a couple of Jewish heritage for the first time. The healthcare provider puts her hand out to shake the gentleman’s hand, and he politely refuses. The female healthcare provider then says “Oh, yes flu season I completely understand.” Why might the gentleman, of Jewish heritage, not shake the female healthcare provider’s hand? How might you have handled this situation differently?

Answer 1

A female health care provider puts her hand out to shake the gentleman's hand of a Jewish heritage,and he politely refuses.

In a Jewish law,Negiah (touch) is a concept that forbids or restricts the physical contacts with a member of opposite sex(,except for one's spouse and close relatives with whom one is assumed not to have physical attraction)

The above scenerio reflects the unawareness of female health care provider regarding the Jewish law(Negiah).

The best intervention that the female health care provider have done is

• apologising for being unaware of the Jewish law.
• asking permission before the action of shaking hand.