Modesty
in Dress-The Principal Law
What areas must women
and girls cover to dress modestly?
All women and girls, married
or unmarried, must cover all parts of their main body
(torso) plus parts of their arms and legs when in public
or in the presence of individuals outside their immediate
family. Under no circumstances may even a small part
of these areas be uncovered in the presence of men or
boys. These areas naturally provoke attention and must
therefore be covered by decree of halacha (Jewish
law). There status as ervah (areas that must
be covered) has been established by Chazal
(our sages) and is not dependant on the local or prevailing
custom. Accordingly, even if most Jewish women would
chas v'shalom (G-d forbid) not cover these
areas properly, the halacha (law) would still
remain the same.
Modesty- An Adornment
for Life, Rabbi Pesach Eliyahu Falk (page: 267)
The Tefach Measurement:
Are there any allowances
to keep any of the aforementioned parts uncovered?
Many people who have heard
the term, Tefach b'isha ervah, have mistakenly
concluded from it that it is permissible to leave less
than a tefach (a measurement of 4" x 4"-10cm
x 10cm) of a forbidden area uncovered. This is a serious
mistake since the halacha (law) requires complete
covering of forbidden areas. The tefach measurement
was given only in connection with the husband and very
close family saying a bracha (blessing) when
his wife is not fully covered, but there is no heter
(allowance by law) whatsoever to leave a small amount
uncovered in the presence of a stranger, and there is
no difference between a tefach and less than a tefach.
Modesty- An Adornment
for Life, Rabbi Pesach Eliyahu Falk (pages: 268, 293)
(top)
Covering
Hair-Crown of the Jewish Woman
What is the basic law
of covering the hair and its measurements?
A: Covering Hair in Public:
It is an obligation min haTorah (from the Torah)
for a married woman to have her hair covered whenever
she is in a public area or appears amongst a large number
of people. Chazal (our sages) labeled hair
of a married woman "ervah" (area
that must be covered) and it is therefore ossur
(prohibited) mid'Rabanan (from the sages) to
say a bracha (blessing) when looking at such
hair, be it another woman's hair which he may not see,
or his own wife's which he may see.
It is an obligation mid'Rabanan (from our sages)
for a married woman to cover her hair when she is not
in the public eye but she could be seen by men who are
not part of her intimate family, e.g. when she goes
out to the porch or yard. The issur (prohibition)
applies even if she can only be seen by one individual,
such as when she opens the door to a stranger.
Hair which is difficult
to contain in a regular well-fitted hair covering is
halachically (according to law) exempt from
this obligation. This refers to hair which grows on
the temples next to the ear or on an exceptionally low
hairline that extends below what a net or tiechel
(scarf) would normally contain.
Although there is no obligation
to cover such hair, nevertheless, if local shomrei
mitzvos (observant Jews) are stringent and cover
them, the halacha (law) obliges women who live
in this locality to behave likewise. In fact, many have
adopted the custom to be stringent because Kabbalistically
much stress is put on covering all hair of the head
without exception. If a woman is just temporarily in
a place that is stringent, she is obliged to cover this
hair in accordance with the local minhag (custom),
even though it is halachically (by law) permitted
for her to show this hair at home where people are used
to it.
There is no heter
(leniency) for a lock of hair that comes from the upper
head area to descend and protrude from the tiechel
(scarf), snood etc. at the temples or even below them
since such hair can easily be contained. There is no
heter (leniency) for even a minor part of the
hair to be uncovered over the forehead. Such hair must
therefore be covered in line with all other hair.
B: Covering Hair in Privacy:
The Poskim (Rabbi's that rule the law) write
that even the lenient opinion (that maintains that she
is not halachically (by law) duty-bound to
cover her hair in privacy) agrees that it is an extremely
praiseworthy act of tznius (modesty) for a
woman to cover her hair whenever possible (even in bed).
This is evident from the story of Kimchis. This outstanding
woman merited having seen seven sons who all became
Kohanim Gedolim (High Priests). When asked
what notable deed she did to merit having such children
she answered, "The ceiling beams of my house never
saw the hair of my head". This means that even
when she wished to comb her hair she would avoid exposing
the hair properly. For example, she combed the hair
under a shawl that lay loosely over her head.
This was an outstanding
act of tznius (modesty) and it is certainly
not expected of the average woman. However, the basic
idea of reducing the exposure of hair to the absolute
minimum is certainly to be learned from Kimchis, and
her ways should be emulated as far as possible. As a
result of this particular form of tznius (modesty),
a woman could merit to have children who are great Talmidei
Chachamim (Torah Scholars).
What other benefits can be gained by covering the hair?
Kabbalah: Great Damage
is done by Exposing Hair:
All opinions (of Rabbis) agree that Kabalistically a
woman harms herself, her husband and children by partially
exposing some of her hair. Moreover, those that leave
some hair uncovered usually do so in order to look more
attractive and from the Zohar (Kabbalistic
writing) it is evident that when hair is uncovered to
attract attention, the harm and damage done is even
greater. The Zohar (a Kabbalistic writing)
says the following:
Rabbi Chizkia said, 'Cursed is the man who allows his
wife to expose hairs of her head beyond their covering.
Covering the hair is one of the acts of modesty that
should be performed even in the home (i.e. not just
in public). The woman who allows some of her hair to
be uncovered in order to exhibit it causes poverty to
descend on her home, her children not to reach the prominence
they could have achieved, and an impure spirit to dwell
in her home. What precipitates such misfortunes? The
hair that she exposed within her house! If the effect
of an indoor exposure is such, imagine what damage is
caused by exposing hair outdoors… A woman should,
therefore ensure that not even a single hair is uncovered
even when she is indoors, and all the more so when she
goes outdoors.'
If women would realize
the harm they inflict upon themselves by being lenient,
they would surely return to the traditional Jewish way
of covering all their hair. It is tragic that such an
important Chazal (teaching of our sages) as
this Zohar (a Kabbalistic writing) is not more
widely known.
Modesty- An Adornment
for Life, Rabbi Pesach Eliyahu Falk (pages: 228-240)
(top)
The
Neckline
How do I measure the area
called 'the neckline'?
A woman must cover the
whole of her main body (the torso). She must, therefore
cover whatever is halachically (according to
law) not considered to be part of the neck.
At the front, the neck
ends just above the collar-bones; the collar bones form
the frontal uppermost part of the torso. As the collar-bones
are part of the main body, they must be properly covered,
in line with all other parts of the main body. At the
center of this frontal area, the neck extends slightly
downwards between the collar-bones in a small v-shaped
dip. This is due to the fact that the collar bones do
not join one another, but rather leave a soft fleshy
area between them. This area is an extended part of
the neck and need not be covered (as this part may be
exposed, great care must be taken to assure the coverage
of the collar bones).
At the sides the neck
gives way and becomes shoulder when it curves outward,
or is at least more horizontal than vertical. Since
this area is shoulder, it is an integral part of the
main body and must be completely covered (check out
the necklace method below).
At the back- At the rear,
the neck ends and the upper back starts from a point
that is level with the highest point of the shoulders.
This is above the second projecting bone of the spine
which can be seen very well on a young child when he
bends his head forward. When a necklace
lies at its lowest natural point across the back of
the neck, it will hang from what is still considered
neck. Below this point the upper back starts, which
must be covered as explained. A necklace can also be
used to help determine the boundaries of the neck to
the right and left.
Modesty- An Adornment
for Life, Rabbi Pesach Eliyahu Falk (pages: 269-270)
(top)
The
Arms
What parts of the arms
must a woman cover?
Upper sections of the
arms must be completely covered. The elbow has the same
halachos (law requirements) as the upper section
of the arm and must be completely covered. In fact,
the elbow is a "ball and socket" area, the
"ball" being the rounded end of the bone of
the upper arm, and the "socket" the top end
of one of the lower bones of the arm (the radius). Hence
the upper limb of the arm occupies a substantial part
of the elbow. Since the upper section of the arm must
be covered and it extends into the elbow, it is understood
that the complete elbow must be covered.
Modesty- An Adornment
for Life, Rabbi Pesach Eliyahu Falk (pages: 291,293)
According to law, must
a woman cover her forearms?
Most Poskim (Rabbis
that rule the law) maintain that the halacha
(law) does not require women to cover their arms below
the elbow. Although there is no halachic (law)
obligation to cover the forearms, nevertheless, this
part of the arms offer an opportunity for a woman or
girl to exercise her own instinctive feeling for refinement,
where halacha (law) has not demanded of her.
To cover the complete arm is a hidur- a considerable
enhancement of the mitzvah (commandment) of
tznius (modesty). In some Chareidi
(Observant Jewish) circles it has become customary that
women and girls cover most of the lower section of the
forearms- and some go even further and cover the whole
lower section of the arm (except where the bracelet
or watch is worn). If one is in such a place, one must
do likewise (only in that place), because the individual
woman is halachically (by law) required to
keep the standard set by women of that time and place.
If covering most or all of the forearm has not become
the local minhag (custom), an individual may
do so herself. She has, however, no right to insist
that other women and girls do so.
All opinions agree that women need not cover their hands
or fingers in public.
Modesty- An Adornment
for Life, Rabbi Pesach Eliyahu Falk (pages: 296,298)
(top)
The
Legs
Upper Section of the Legs:
What is the law requirement
of covering the legs?
Skirts must cover the
knees completely. The upper section of the legs must
be covered when in public by decree of halacha
(law), due to their proximity to the main body. Therefore,
even if most women would wear short sleeves or short
skirts, it would still remain strictly against the halacha
(law) to do so.
A woman or girl must cover
the upper sections of the legs including the knees.
This is because the knee is not an independent bone
(apart from the slim knee cap). Instead, it contains
the rounded lower end of the upper section of the leg-
the femur. This upper bone extends through to the lowest
point of the knee to the extent that when a person who
is sitting puts his hands onto his knees he is touching
the rounded lower end of the femur bone. The lower leg
(the tibia) which is slightly indented to comfortably
support the rounded end of the upper section is situated
just below the knee. Since the upper section of the
leg must be completely covered as has been explained,
and the upper sections of the legs extend down the complete
knee, it is obvious that the knee must be completely
covered.
A woman must ensure that
her knees remain fully covered at all times, even when
she is sitting, stretching, ascending stairs, (walking),
and so on. The skirt length must therefore ensure that
her knees will not be uncovered even for a moment.
Modesty- An Adornment
for Life, Rabbi Pesach Eliyahu Falk (pages: 300,302)
May a woman wear a tight
fitting skirt if they properly cover the upper legs
and knees?
Even though the upper
sections of the arms and legs are both ervah
(areas that must be covered) by decree of halacha (law),
there is an important difference between them. The upper
arms must be covered but there is no halachic
(law) obligation to disguise and mask their shape by
covering them with a shawl etc. The upper sections of
the legs, however, are governed by a far more stringent
halacha (law). They must be covered in such
a way that the limbs are totally disguised and the shape
of the thigh and upper sections of the legs cannot be
seen. This implies that the thigh must be dressed in
a loose fitting garment and is therefore hidden and
goes unnoticed.
Modesty- An Adornment for Life, Rabbi Pesach Eliyahu
Falk (pages: 308,309)
Lower Section of the Legs:
What is the law requirement
of the lower section of the legs?
The lower section of the
legs must be fully covered with hosiery (tights or stockings)
which masks the legs and covers them well. There are
two independent reasons why the lower sections of the
legs must be covered in this manner:
· Firstly, Chazal (our sages) state
that Shok b'isha ervah- "the leg of a woman is
ervah (area that must be covered)". According
to many Poskim (Rabbis that rule the law),
Chazal (our sages) are referring to the lower
sections of the legs.
· Secondly, it is a fully-accepted Orthodox practice
that the lower sections of the legs are covered whenever
a woman or girl is in public to lessen their visibility
and render them indistinct. The legs are therefore limbs
which are generally covered and obscured and as such
it is an obligation on everyone not to deviate from
this practice.
Modesty- An Adornment
for Life, Rabbi Pesach Eliyahu Falk (page: 329)
(top)
The above content was
taken from: Falk, Eliyahu Pesach. Modesty: An
Adornment for Life. Philipp Feldheim: New York,
1998.
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