negiah

English

Alternative forms

• negia, negiyah

Etymology

Borrowed from Hebrew נְגִיעָה (“touch”).

Noun

negiah (uncountable)

1. (Jewish law) Physical contact between the sexes outside of marriage or familial relations.
2. (Jewish law) The prohibition against this.
   • 2006 June 9, Lisa, “LESBIAN & GAY SHABBAT DINNER - 5 JUNE -- RODEPH SHOLOM (NYC)”, in soc.culture.jewish.moderated‎^[1] (Usenet):

     If I see a young man and woman out on a date in the US, would I not assume that even if they were makpid on kashrut, they might not be as makpid on negia? Or even on pre-marital sex? After all, that is exceedingly common in the US today, and it's even made inroads among ostensibly Orthodox Jews.

Related terms

• shomer negiah