Validity of Shivah Nekiyim Counted Before Seeing the Groom

From: Rabbi Moshe Sofer

To: Rabbi Meir

Description

A widow counted seven clean days before ever seeing her intended groom, raising the question of whether dam chimud requires visual contact to be triggered. The Chasam Sofer rules leniently, concluding that chimud arises at the moment of agreement rather than upon seeing the groom, and that the principle from Sotah 8a concerns desire for one specific body not transferring to another, not a requirement for visual contact to produce chimud at all.

Source: Shu"t Chasam Sofer YD §184

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