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However, my father-in-law Rav Y.S. Elyashiv zt”l, did not agree
with the presumption of the Chochmas Shlomo [that Yael remained
permitted to her husband], nor with the Chasam Sofer (writing on
the haftarah of parshas Beshalach) who reaches the same conclusion,
for in his opinion Yael’s deed did not constitute the Jewish nation’s
salvation, for Sisra’s entire army had been defeated and Sisra himself
was being hotly pursued. Therefore, although Yael’s behavior was
later extolled on Hashem yisbarach’s behalf, it is clear to my father-in-
law zt”l, that Yael became forbidden to her husband. On the contrary,
whereas Esther did what she did upon Divine inspiration Yael acted
on her own initiative, therefore we cannot endorse saving the Jewish
people through such deeds. This is particularly so because in order
to carry out such an act one’s motivation must be extremely pure and
not everyone can [honestly] say,“I am acting solely for Heaven’s sake.”
If Chazal forbade a man who had become heartsick from conversing
with the woman he desired [even] from behind a partition so that
Jewish daughters should not engage in promiscuous conduct, as is
clear from maseches Sanhedrin, (75a)5 here too it should be forbidden
it and we ought not to endorse such conduct.

Therefore, if a Jewish daughter does something like this in order to
apprehend an informer and she is a married woman, according to the
Chochmas Shlomo and possibly also according to the Chasam Sofer,
she will not become forbidden to her husband. However, according
to the Meshech Chochmah (writing on the haftarah of parshas Be-
shalach), and as my father-in-law zt”l, also rules, she becomes forbid-
den to her husband.

ɳ Summary and conclusion

Such conduct is forbidden and the Jewish people’s salvation will not
come about in such a manner.



5. See the explanation of this topic earlier, in simanim 283 and 151.

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