Tagged Questions
3
votes
1answer
57 views
Is there a halachik problem with wearing shorts while davening?
I have often heard that one should not wear shorts while davening. This makes intuitive sense to me that we should do this out of respect. But is there any halachic reasoning behind this? Is it ...
7
votes
1answer
269 views
Viewing copulating animals
As a child at the zoo I was taught that one is not allowed to view animals while they are copulating. However as a pet owner I have learned that the exposed genitals of animals do not prohibit a ...
13
votes
2answers
210 views
May a man become a gynecologist?
Is there any discussion among the halachic authorities as to whether or not a man can choose to pursue a medical career in gynaecology? The issue that I would presume exists is that unlike other parts ...
2
votes
2answers
262 views
Are (opaque) stockings under a skirt considered enough to cover ervah?
This is a question about skirt lengths. From this answer:
The halacha is that "tefach b'isha ervah" - a tefach (about 3.5
inches) uncovered on certain parts of a woman's body is ervah -
...
1
vote
2answers
180 views
Women face veil prescribed
I read here about certain Jewish sects prescribing face veil. Is there, in fact, a rule requiring or encouraging covering the faces of women in presence of unrelated men? If so, what is the source for ...
3
votes
1answer
223 views
When are you allowed to touch your (newly married) wife?
At what point is a man allowed to touch a woman that he has just married. Can they touch after he has placed the ring on her finger and said "harei at..." before the 7 blessings are completed? Are ...
3
votes
3answers
235 views
Husband deciding how his wife should cover her hair
Issues of Shalom Bayis (peace in the home) and any other deciding factor aside, does the husband have any "right" or "privilege" (from a halachic standpoint) to decide how his wife will cover her hair ...
1
vote
1answer
86 views
Unkosher sheitel's / wigs?
Is it permissible for a married woman to wear a wig if the hair was sacrificed to an idol or foreign deity? There is a temple in India, dubbed the "Richest temple in the World" where pilgrims shave ...
5
votes
3answers
392 views
Horse back riding for women
Is it permissible for an Orthodox woman to do horseback riding in an ordinary saddle, or does she have to use a sidesaddle? Furthermore, would she be able to use women's trousers made for horseback ...
5
votes
2answers
345 views
Modesty: What is the difference between Conservative and Modern Orthodox?
What are the differences between female Modern Orthodox/Modern Orthodox Liberal Jews and Conservatives in terms of women's modesty? My question applies both to dress and social interaction - shaking ...
12
votes
1answer
284 views
Is it ok for spouses to touch in public?
Are spouses allowed to touch one another in public (when the wife is not a niddah) or is this a violation of tzniut? I am asking specifically regarding touch that is not in any way sexual or even ...
0
votes
1answer
126 views
who is liable in kol isha and tzneiz situations?
If a women starts singing in a room with men, despite knowing they observe kol isha, is she liable for her voice being heard or are the men that hear liable?
If a women dresses non-tzneiz in front of ...
7
votes
1answer
99 views
Does halacha require me to install ad-blocker software?
There are so many Internet banner ads out there that contain immodest content.
Say I own a personal computer and I use it every day for Facebook, email, and Web surfing. Does Jewish law require me to ...
6
votes
2answers
110 views
Do you have to pay if you damage someone in order to stop them from sinning?
There is a story in Brachos where R' Ada bar Ahava ripped a Karbalta (a red non-tznius garment) off a woman, and then discovered that she was not Jewish. He then was fined for that act 400 zuz. He ...
8
votes
1answer
480 views
Can a mother undress in front of her daughter?
Can a married woman with children undress in front of her daughter to try on clothes assuming she would be in undergarments?
8
votes
1answer
220 views
Sheitels or no sheitels - where is the halacha?
With very well respected Rabbis such as Rav Ovadia Yossef clearly stating that wigs (sheitels) are simply assur (forbidden) according to most poskim, while some other very well respected rabbis such ...
8
votes
2answers
131 views
May one recite a bracha while in the presence of ervah?
May one recite a bracha while in the presence of ervah? According to Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 75, one may not pray or recite Torah while in the presence of body parts that should be covered. Does ...
3
votes
1answer
245 views
In a non-Jewish youth hostel, is it problematic to stay in a mixed-gender dorm instead of a male-only one?
I'm male. Say I stay in a non-Jewish youth hostel dorm room which is mixed-gender instead of male-only. Might I encounter yichud problems? Might I encounter any other halachic problems? What's your ...
7
votes
1answer
128 views
Minimal Body Covering to say Blessings
Can I say a brachah with just boxers on, or do I need a "double covering" For example, when I wake up and want to wash netilat yadayim?
5
votes
2answers
181 views
Tznius and B'not Noach
To what extent do the standards of tznius apply to non-Jews living among Jews? For example, is a married Noachide woman's hair considered ervah? If not, why not?
I know that rules concerning tznius ...
11
votes
4answers
260 views
Should a woman avoid singing in front of her husband while she is a niddah?
Should a woman avoid singing in front of her husband while she is a niddah? Is it strictly prohibited or just inadvisable? (Obviously I am not talking about deliberately seductive songs.)
5
votes
1answer
116 views
When is a mechitza required at a meal?
According to the opinions which require Mechitzos by weddings.
Why isn't there a requirement to have Mechitzos by any other Seudas Mitzvah?
For example, why isn't there a requirement that one have a ...
18
votes
2answers
767 views
What are the sources for women to wear/ not wear pants?
I have heard that the argument is beged ish / kli gever, and I have heard people say that even if that was once a real reason for it it doesn't apply today for various reasons.
I understand that the ...
11
votes
3answers
361 views
Woman's hair covering in the home or in private
Trying to sort out my question, I came across this one, which is closely related, but it is not an exact duplicate.
According to those who say a woman must cover her hair, not just her head (those ...
5
votes
1answer
100 views
How to practice when 2 customs collide
This question is inspired by recent news of events in Beit Shemesh.
What happens halachically when 2 customs collide and each custom affects the other side? In the case of modesty, for example, ...
14
votes
3answers
517 views
The laws behind the separation of men and women
In Israel there is a hot debate because of instances on some communities where extra steps are taken to separate men and women in every day life. For example in some bus lines women seat in the back ...
8
votes
3answers
116 views
Drinking on the street
Recently it has become common to see ladies walking around the Haredi neighborhoods, specifically the shopping streets of Geula, sipping from an iced coffee in a paper cup. It certainly looks ...
8
votes
2answers
320 views
Halachic Considerations for Women in the IDF
For a religious girl going into the IDF very soon, there are a few questions that are often asked:
Especially in active units, wearing a skirt while on base can be a problem:
While crawling, ...
14
votes
1answer
887 views
Mixed swimming in a pool?
What are the issues with mixed swimming, from a tzniut point of view? Does it make a difference if the swimmers are or aren't Jewish? For example, are there issues with me swimming with my wife and a ...
8
votes
1answer
440 views
Male tzniut: Swimwear
Seeing as summer is coming, I thought I'd clear up a few questions about male tzniut with regards to swimwear. Namely, my real question is: what is required? I live in southern California, so outside ...
16
votes
12answers
1k views
How to tactfully circumvent opposite-gender handshake
Say you're a man in a professional setting, and a woman who isn't used to dealing with observant Jews stretches out her hand to greet you -- but your practice is to avoid shaking hands even in ...
7
votes
3answers
319 views
Is mixed gender volleyball permissible?
Are men and women permitted to play volleyball against each other, with each team only one gender?
Does it make a difference if they are separated by an opaque wall or a regular net?
7
votes
1answer
555 views
Tznius In Regards to Covering Elbows
Are there sources that say women do not have to cover elbows? Because I've seen Orthodox women not covering them and I want to be able to say that there are sources that support their actions.
6
votes
3answers
244 views
Are Jews permitted to work out?
Are Jews allowed to pump their muscles?
What if the intent is to make yourself look good?
10
votes
3answers
491 views
What is the original halachic source for a woman covering her collarbones out of modesty (tznius)?
Many contemporary instructions on women's modesty (tznius) say that necklines have to be high enough to cover the collarbones.
I can certainly accept that if this is the communal standard, it should ...
15
votes
1answer
259 views
The new TSA airport scanners and tznius
Is it OK as per Halacha to go through the new TSA scanners where they see you as if you are naked?
11
votes
2answers
706 views
What are the halachic boundaries between a brother and sister?
Can they touch each other? Hug? Are they allowed to expose their legs, arms, etc., in front of each other? Can they swim together? Dance together?
6
votes
4answers
284 views
Walking Between 2 Women - Relatives
A man is not allowed to walk between two women. Does this apply where one of them is his mother (or sister)?
14
votes
3answers
776 views
Shaking hands with the opposite gender?
What's the story: Can a man shake hands with a woman (or vice versa) in a business setting?
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Is there a problem with women wearing red clothing?
I've heard that red clothing is forbidden for women to wear because it's immodest. Some recent psych research confirmed that men are more attracted to women in red. So that means it's prohibited, ...
3
votes
2answers
272 views
What are the halachik issues involved in drawing from a nude model?
Aside from seeming obviously inappropriate for a good Jewish boy/girl, what are the halachik issues involved in drawing from a nude model? Are there any distinctions with regard to men/women?
