Q&A: Modesty Code for Women
Modesty Code for Women
Question
What does the Rabbi think about the debate that Schnerb had in his article about a halakhic code for women's dress? Does the Rabbi agree with his claim that there are no laws of women's modesty?
Here you can read the debate - nbsp;
http://woland.ph.biu.ac.il/?page_id=146
Answer
I don’t remember the details at the moment. At first glance it seems that he is right, since there is no clear connection between the laws of modesty and causing men to stumble under the prohibition of "do not place a stumbling block." Reasoning also suggests that we do not prohibit things to women so that men won’t fail, except perhaps in cases where the failure is very severe, direct, and certain.
As for the question whether there are laws of modesty, that is a matter of definition. Clearly it depends on the circumstances, but that does not mean it is not Jewish law.
Discussion on Answer
There are laws that cannot be quantified within a rigid and fixed framework, because they depend on the circumstances. For example, there is a presumption that a person does not repay a debt before its due date (Bava Batra 5). What would happen if a custom developed to repay before the due date? The presumption would change. Does that mean this presumption is not Jewish law? Definitely not. Of course it is Jewish law, except that the law depends on the circumstances. That is what I meant regarding the laws of modesty. Even if they depend on circumstances, that does not mean they are not Jewish law.
But what does it mean that it’s a matter of definition? And mainly, where exactly did the Rabbi see that there are laws of modesty in the Talmud or in Jewish law?
Modesty is made up of many things. Even seclusion can be considered part of the laws of modesty. A woman’s singing voice and a woman’s nakedness appear in Jewish law (both regarding reciting Shema in their presence and in general). So the question is which of all these you choose to call laws of modesty.
The sources and the issue are discussed in the articles you mentioned.
Here’s the practical difference: https://news.walla.co.il/item/3154842
Thank you for the answer.
The Rabbi wrote:
"As for the question whether there are laws of modesty, that is a matter of definition. Clearly it depends on the circumstances, but that does not mean it is not Jewish law."
I didn’t really understand. Could the Rabbi expand and explain more, please?