Married Son Traveling With Mother
Question
Is it permitted for a married man to travel on multi-day trips together with just his mother by car, train, or plane?
I am an artist and my mother is my marketer. Before I was married, we used to travel all the time to sell my art, but covid put a hold on that. Then I got married and now my wife and I have a baby. All four of us live together. My father is long divorced from my mother and we are not in contact with him.
My mother and I want to resume our travels to sell my art. My art is the sole source of income for our household. My wife wants to stay home with our baby and doesn’t want to travel now. She does not mind my mother and I traveling together and encourages us to do so in order to make money.
I have several questions. Are there any modesty issues with us sharing a hotel room or being in the car together for many hours far from home? Or sitting together on a plane or train? Are extra activities we do while traveling such as sightseeing or walking on trails or eating together in restaurants (kosher ones) a allowed? And is it a problem that my mother, being so young looking and energetic, is often mistaken by strangers for being my wife or sister?
Answers
First, please accept my personal Bracha that your artwork be well received and that it be a healthy source of income for you.
There are absolutely no Yichud issues of travelling together with your mother. Long car rides, flights and everything else in between are completely permissible. While it might be considered to be Halachically permissible for you and your mother to share a bedroom while you are travelling, it is, nevertheless, recommended that you sleep in separate bedrooms.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team
Whenever we stay in a hotel, my mother wants me to be in the same room as her. She doesn’t feel safe as a woman alone in a hotel room in a strange place. We also cannot afford two separate rooms. Occasionally we’ve stayed in multi-room suites at reasonable prices.
If possible a multi-room suite would be the best option.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team