Q&A: Modesty.
Modesty.
Question
Hello Rabbi,
In a class I attended, it was said that there is a problem with a woman going in pants because it involves spreading the legs, like the prohibition against riding an animal. Is that correct?
Is one required to be concerned for the Or Zarua, who says to abstain during the previous cycle before her expected period?
And regarding a wig: if it really looks like natural hair, so that it’s impossible to tell the difference, is that a problem? And is that more of a problem than a wig where you can tell that it’s a wig?
Also, regarding the length of the wig, is there a specific required length?
Thank you very much.
Answer
There is no problem with riding an animal, and also no problem with wearing pants. The problem is with immodest clothing. In the Talmud, riding a horse appears as a recommendation, not a prohibition, but when according to today’s norms there is no immodesty in it, then there is no problem.
People did not generally follow the stringent view of the Or Zarua. Although the Shakh and the Hazon Ish wrote that it is proper to do so.
There are opinions that prohibit wigs entirely, so the question is relevant only according to the opinions that permit them. Among those, there are halakhic decisors who wrote that a wig that resembles hair is a problem. The question is whether head covering is a formal requirement or a substantive one. Since, in my opinion, nowadays there is no immodesty in this, only the formal issue remains, and therefore there is room to be lenient. And one who is stringent will be blessed.
I did not understand the question about the length of the wig. But there are no rules in Jewish law about what a wig has to be like.
Discussion on Answer
Think for yourself. There is no unequivocal definition. And I do not think that most halakhic decisors say that this is immodest. They hold that it is men’s attire. In my opinion, there is nothing immodest here.
The Rabbi wrote that pants are permitted and that it is forbidden to wear immodest clothing, so now the questions are: what is the definition of immodest clothing? After all, most halakhic decisors today determine that pants are immodest.
Second question: who determines what is considered modest and immodest — society? And what if it is a permissive society that is used to going around in a miniskirt and bra? (I intentionally took an extreme example.)