R' Pesach Falk made me a Ba'al Aveiroh (Part I)

The world famous author of the "Tznius Book" has struck again. By that I mean that just as he had taken women and girls who considered themselves quite Tzonu'os, and made them into provocative ones who cause men to sin, so too with this book. While recently visiting a doctor's office I noticed his book on a Chosson and Kallah and the period between engagement and wedding called וארשתיך לי בצדק, and was immediately drawn to it. I'm b"h happily married for a number of years, but I guess I wanted to see if I was a good boy during that time. It turns out that until you get to the part about proper conduct during your engagement you need to be on your third visit to that doctor's office, and I didn't have all that much of a wait anyway, so I didn't get very far. First there's much talk there about the general code of conduct between men and women, which is of relevance to me now, as well as to most of you, since many of us do work in offices and interact with women daily on a professional level.

What bothers me is as follows: If you work in an office and there's a secretary there, or any other female employee for that matter, whether Jewish or non-Jewish, there are times when the mood there is a bit lighter. You need to interact and deal with her as you'd do with any other human being, this isn't a grocery in Williamsburg where you can throw the money on the counter. There are times you need to make light conversation, and there are times you need to congratulate her, for whatever reason. I realize that most of what he says is basic Shulchan Aruch, but he seems to be going overboard with his Psokim. Here's what I mean (and please don't attack me as not caring about halochoh.) He quotes the Shulchan Aruch and Poskim like the Beis Shmuel who make any kind of interaction with women Avizrayoo DeGiluy Arayos and transgressions of the Lav of Lo Sikrevoo LeGalos Ervosoh.

To be continued, iy"h.