Self-Locking Doors Raise Halachic Concerns

Rabbonim have pointed out that public institutions should avoid installing self-locking door handles, which make it impossible to open rooms’ doors from the outside, as such a situation causes problems relating to yichud.

Rav Shmuel Halevi Wosner and Rav Nissim Karelitz are quoted as saying that such doors are considered locked even if no human action has been taken to lock them, and therefore yichud concerns arise.

A warning published by “Halacha Watch” says that Maran Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv also warned about this halachic concern.

“Recently-introduced door handles almost seem like regular handles from the outside, and the handles can be shifted from the outside as well, but they have an automatic electrical locking that prevents the door from being opened from the outside,” the ad explained.
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