Awkward:  I meet someone for the first time at a social event, and he sticks out his hand to shake mine.  I apologize and decline to shake, stating that, “It’s a religious thing; I don’t shake hands with men.”

Very awkward.

Let me explain.
Jewish law and tradition have a lot to say about relationships between men and women.
How to keep them monogamous.
How to keep them spiritual.
How to keep them fresh.

To put it bluntly, a physical relationship is only intended within the framework of marriage.

To this end, there is a whole huge lifestyle that goes along with living according the Torah’s directives in this area.  The basic logic is this: if boys and girls socialize, they will date.  If they will date, they will develop feelings for each other.  These feelings may or may not be real, mature, devoted, or sane.  A physical relationship will likely develop that will have nothing to do with one’s life partner.

Therefore, boys and girls in the Orthodox world, at differing degrees of intensity depending upon where along the ortho-spectrum one falls, are pretty much educated and socialized separately.

How about grown-up folks?

Well, since adult human beings are, erm, not immune to faithlessness, there are a number of guidelines in place to prevent unseemly or unwanted relationships from forming. 
Like not being alone with a member of the opposite sex unless you’re married.  Or immediately related.
Like not touching, unless same.
The general idea is that this is a safeguard, or as it’s referred to in Torah jargon, a “fence.”  To protect us.  From our very human selves.

“Question, Rabbi?
Handshaking is hardly a big deal.  I mean, it’s just like a business-like greeting.”

Answer:
You’re right, which is why many halachic (that which pertains to Jewish Law) authorities permit it.  But some do not.  My personal rabbi does not.  The logic is – what if hugs become the new handshake?  (And, um, I think they have.  Possibly even kisses.)  Then what?  So some say, a handshake is a handshake, and some say, don’t even get started.  Touch is touch.  If you’re not shaking hands, you’re setting a very clear boundary right there.  Which, in an era of increased harassment suits, may not be such a bad idea for anyone.

Lovely.

But I’m still shakin’ in my boots at the thought of shakin’.  Why?  Because it has so much potential for awkwardness.  If folks already think that as an Orthodox Jew, I am standoffish/snobby/weird, this may very well confirm it for good.  Also, you know when you try to high-five someone and they don’t connect?  AWKWARD.  No one likes having their hand hang out in mid-air like a piece of cold, unwanted, spaghetti.  Also, and possibly most importantly, I don’t want to make anyone feel bad.

So I pray they won’t extend the hand.  Maybe a smile and a “hi, pleased to meet you” will be enough.  Maybe I can balance a plate of hors-d’oeuvres and a glass and that will be my “no handshake available” signal?  Sometimes my husband and I try to stand near each other so we can do each other’s handshakes.  A bit odd, to be sure (no points in combating the “Orthodox Jews are weird” category) but at least not reject-ful.

Ideally, people who know us can warn their friends or family in advance that we have this fetish so no one will mistakenly extend their hand.  Not because it offends me (as many people erroneously believe) but because the last thing I want to do is offend another by rejecting his handshake, when all he is trying to do is be polite and social.

So let’s make a deal.
Let’s not be offended by one another.
Yay!
I think the shaking is subsiding.
Have you been on either side of the hand-shaking moment?