Tech Check

Prepared for print by Faigy Peritzman

Does cherem d’Rabbeinu Gershom apply to email? Can spouses read each other’s emails?

Cherem d’Rabbeinu Gershom forbids opening and reading another person’s private letter without the recipient’s explicit permission. If the letter contains private or sensitive information about the sender, then his permission would be required as well. An email is a letter just like any other, and is therefore included in the prohibition. Spouses may not read each other’s emails without permission, since the sender may be sharing private or sensitive information. Even an outgoing email may not be read by a spouse if there’s a possibility that the email contains information that the recipient would not want shared with the spouse.

My neighborhood has a Neshei email list and I often post questions there. But sometimes my questions are particularly personal and I don’t want anyone to know it’s me. Am I allowed to post using a pseudonym?

There is nothing wrong or deceitful about using a pseudonym. It’s a tool that’s been used by many gedolei Yisrael who opted to share Torah thoughts or public messages without revealing their true identities.

Can I send an email to someone in a different time zone where it’s still Shabbos? What if they have a generic last name and I don’t know if they are Jewish or not?

It is permitted on Friday or Motzaei Shabbos to send an email to anywhere in the world, even if the recipient’s computer will receive it when it’s Shabbos in their time zone. In general, we need not be concerned if the intended recipient is Jewish or otherwise. Still, if you have reason  to believe that a secular Jewish recipient is eagerly anticipating your email, and will likely turn on his computer (or other device) or check his email provider specifically in order to read your email, you should avoid sending him that email until Shabbos passes in his time zone.

Is there any problem with forwarding an email I receive to someone else? Does it make any difference if it’s in a personal or professional capacity?

If the email contains private or sensitive information that the sender would object to having shared with others, it would be forbidden to forward it. Otherwise, it is permitted, irrespective of whether it’s professional or personal.