Jewish Scene
Kosher haredi dress: Nix everything tight or red
Neta Sela
Published: 02.01.07, 15:43
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1. Red Good Luck Strings on the Wrist
Dorothy Friend ,   Tel Aviv   (01.02.07)
I see a lot of religious girls wearing these, and have been approached more than once at funerals (!) by orthodox Jewish men selling them. Are they okay?
2. ynet Ignorance
Reuven Brauner ,   Raanana, Israel   (01.02.07)
The Jewish laws of modesty have been in place for thousands of years and are mentioned in the Talmud and the Shulchan Aruch. These include the prohibitions against wearing red clothing. These are not new restrictions, not stringencies and not medieval. They are integral in Jewish Law and not new. It is a great shame that ynet makes no effort to research its articles before they publish them.
3. A Red Dress to Mad Haredi
Colin ,   Raanana   (01.02.07)
Are these Haredi (so called "pious") men so bored? Is this all they have to worry about? I say "Wear Red Davka". Honestly, they are so stupid!!
4. Red i clothing in a no-no for Haradi women
robin ,   Israel   (01.02.07)
It is aburd that a color is considered not kosher to wear?what is the reason behind it? It seems silly that men dictate what a woman may or may not wear,just because the males cannot control their sexual urges.Why not force the Haredi omen to dress like the women in the rest of the Middle eastern countries ,it seems like having them wear a veil and covered head to toe in black with only the eyes showing like the Taliban inforced is only a matter of time for these women! Men should be able to control their sexual urges and not force women to dress like they are invisible! It is not in the Torah that women cannot wear red! Seems like the Rabbis want to subjugate women and make them second class people.
5. Source: Rabbi Akiva in Gemara
Abraham ,   Houston TX   (01.02.07)
The laws of modesty apply to both men and women. Men, being the uglier of the species, don't have to be reminded to cover up. The red in mentions in the Gemara, is not what we usually see today. It is a blood red or "royal red" that it is refering to. This is not compulsary, this is for the people that are interested in it. This is a step forward for comunication.
6. I don't wear red
Aviva ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (01.02.07)
But only because it is not a good color for me. If I had black hair and a darker complexion, I would wear red all the time!
7. This is just plain halacha
Daniel van Dalen ,   Jerusalem   (01.02.07)
If I remember correctly, even the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch mentions that red clothing is not allowed. There is nothing weird about that, it's just plain halacha. The fact that the modern-orthodox don't do it doesn't mean that it is not halacha. Further, ynet shows its total ignorance. The photo is of national-religious / modern-orthodox / religious-zionist girls. Not chareidi girls. The girls on that photo will wear red and don't care what Rav Eliashiv says. (Nor do I care, but that has other reasons.)
8. #1 response about red strings
Daniel van Dalen ,   Jerusalem   (01.02.07)
Those guys walking around selling red strings are total idiots. They are not Chareidim; they are not even religious people. They are frauds, who do not belong to any religious movement and do not have the support of any rabbi in the entire world. I have so often seen how innocent tourists at the Kotel are being framed into buying a red string, and paying the guy a lot of money for a 'blessing'. This whole thing, the guys themselves, are about as Jewish as Mohammed and Jesus. They belong in jail, the right place for the frauds they are. Please be aware that these are not real chareidim. They are not even religious.
9. Ode to Lady in Red
Leonie Ben-Simon ,   Melbourne Australia   (01.02.07)
The Devil, they say Wears Prada ( it’s red) But not in Bnei Brak They’d rather be dead. Whilst women young and old Show their stuff in the street The opposite sex look: It’s a market for meat. It’s a culture from the West That we ape and enjoy And expect to be free To wear colours with joy. But this is the Middle East And not the US The backlash against immodesty Is affecting our dress. With pupicks on show And tiny minis everywhere With piercings and tatts You’d have to say a prayer. Pray for the guys too Who match girls in the street With their body jewelry Their bongs and thonged feet. I see her going Walking along, far away Lady in Red Dressed decently some would say. But not for long friends If there’s no middle ground We’ll all be in burquas Maybe only in brown. And we’ll lock up our daughters And maybe our sons too So we’ll all be so safe And all out of view. ...........................................
10. Let's Be Smart About This
Jerry ,   Eilat   (01.02.07)
HIGH RISK CLOTHING: What about beautiful wigs that make dull, gray or stringy hair extremely attractive? Or Hats worn in suggestive ways? Or Make up that can cover any blemish? Isn't the solution a chador for every woman in Israel and wouldn't this promote interfaith relations too?
11. "fashion" for religious women
Zoe   (01.02.07)
They are so sick, these orthodox men, they can't even see a woman as a woman, she has to be dressed in clothes that will hide there femini forever. But they [those "pious" men] will meet their ultimate punishment for their perversities on earth and their scandalous behaviour in "name of God" and they will pay the price!!! I feel deeply sorry for all the women who have to live according to the rules of sick, psychotic leaders not worse then Saddam Hussein.
12. #4 Why not red? Here is why-
Reuven Brauner ,   Raanana, Israel   (01.02.07)
Red was avoided for two reasons: First, it was the color associated with royalty and power. (Note how often leading male politicians in government wear red ties and, women, red dresses. This is a holdover from the red=royalty idea.) Red, being a particularly bright and unusual color in ancient times, was expensive to produce and only the wealthy (royalty) could afford it. Red also is a color which draws attention to wearer and does not promote humility and modesty as do darker (e.g. black) colors. Second, red was the color adopted by prostitutes for advertising purposes and to attract the eye of potential customers, as was the wearing of ankle bracelets. Thus, modest Jewish women were advised not to wear red.
13. #1 Red Strings
Reuven Brauner ,   Raanana, Israel   (01.02.07)
To the best of my knowledge, and despite some obscure references in some obscure kabbalistic sources, there is no basis for the wearing of these red strings in the Torah, the Talmud or the Codes of Jewish Law. I am unaware of the efficacy of these strings.
14. Why not just wear burqa and hijab?
Benjamin ,   TA Israel   (01.02.07)
15. Give Me A Break
Phillip ,   NYC   (01.02.07)
The people who are making these statements are insane. These Rabbis and their followers should find something else to do and complain about. 1.. El AL is no good. 2. Do not drive on the Sabeth in certain towns. 3. certain Kosher foods is not really Kosher enough. I can go on and on... Now it is the color RED....... God help us all.
16. ultra
dana ,   ny   (01.02.07)
Since the editors and writers of YNET ar eso fixated on the hareidim and use the pejoritve adjective "ultra" to describe them. lets find other uses for "ultra" reform jews- ultra assimilated secular ynet writers- ultra goyishe, ultra likely to become yordim, ultra likely to have been selected to be kapos Olmert- ultra likely to blink in a crisis
17. Seculars and the color red
Debbie ,   Israel   (01.02.07)
My secular ulpan teacher taught our secular ulpan class that Jews (not hareidim, but JEWS) do not favor the color red and we would not see it widely displayed in the streets of Israel because red is the color of blood and we've seen way too much red in the streets of Israel already. Made sense to me then and makes sense to me now. The only thing that doesn't make sense is doing something contrary to local norms just to spite some "authority" which you don't recognize anyway.
18. haredi dress code
bernard landman ,   raanana   (01.02.07)
does it matter one iota what these medieval parasitic morons believe. i still believe in the tooth fairy and santa claus and zeus throws thunderbolts from mnt. olympus but you dont needt to know my opinions about dress code
19. Clothing is kosher?
Jay ,   Israel   (01.02.07)
The only kosher clothes i can think of is edible underwear. Next time i wont buy strawberry flavoured ones.
20. They'll End Up In Burkas Some Day
Terry ,   Eilat - Israel   (01.02.07)
But evidently not red ones. What is this? The rabbis are competing with the Imams to see who is crazier. Rabbis, give up - they have you beat!
21. #8
Martin ,   USA   (01.02.07)
Jesus is 100% jewish. He kept all the laws and all the feasts. We also have his genealogy. Where is your genealogy showing that you are a descendant of the patriarchs? Now mohammed on the other hand, I would have to fully agree with you.
22. Jewish Taliban
Amy ,   Albany, NY   (01.02.07)
Ah, our very own Jewish Taliban. Will they start driving around in white Toyotas arresting women for improper dress? Those Rabbis need to get a life, and the women need to monitor themselves. Yuck is all I have to say.
23. #19: Personally, Cherry is My Favotite :-{)}
emanon ,   USA   (01.02.07)
24. I wonder how do religious people live among isralians? If
sarah ,   North   (01.02.07)
If even they were forbidden to wear red clothes? May be they great pretenders?
25. Hey Jay
Daniel   (01.02.07)
Your stupidity wont be so funny when your time comes and you stand before God. You are probably still young and immature and think you will live forever. You wont. Grow up. Wake up
26. Phillip , NYC
David K ,   Jerusalem   (01.02.07)
Come on Philip! Not only are you 6,000 miles away from what is going on here, but your ideas are further than that. Havent you learnt by now not to judge a segmant of society purely by what is posted on ynet! Get off your couch and speek to a Rabbi to get the other side of the story before you go shooting your mouth off.
27. #20
Phillip ,   NYC   (01.02.07)
That was very funny and well said. You gave me a good laugh.
28. afiedotin@comcast.net
Arnoldo Fiedotin ,   Atlanta, GA USA   (01.02.07)
Islamic thought police, anyone? We only need those guardians of Judaism to can women because of their clothing.
29. DEAR ROBIN # 4 PLEASE READ THIS .
MOSHE ,   USA   (01.02.07)
I EXPLAIN THIS IN A FATHERLY WAY. THERE ARE MANY NOTIONS (LIES) THAT SEEP LIKE SEWAGE INTO EVERY SOCIETY. ONE MUST ALWAYS ANALYSE & EVEN PRIORITIZE SOCIAL MESSAGES. SOME ARE OUTRIGHT WRONGS, OTHERS ARE PARTIAL TRUTHS OR BARE A NON-THRESHOLD RANK OF UTILITY. TAKE FREEDOM FOR EXAMPLE.EVEN THE FREEDOM FOR WOMEN TO DRESS AS THEY SEE FIT. SO LET ME REDRESS YOUR SUBMISSIONS LIKE THIS:G-D MADE MEN STUPID FOR YOU WOMEN. IT TAKES A VERY STRONG MAN NOT TO WEAKEN FROM THE SIGHT OF A PRETTY WOMAN. ESPECIALLY AS WE GET OLDER, OUR APPRECIATION BROADENS FOR ALL CONCEPTS OF BEAUTY & MAKES US MORE THANKFUL TO H-SHEM OVER A WIDER SPECTRUM OF AWE THAN WE HAD AS YOUTHS, SUCH AS FOR FLOWERS, ARTWORK, ARCHITECTURE, SCENES ON EARTH & IN THE SKY & CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY JEWISH CHILDREN WHO WE BARE HOPE FOR THE FUTURE WHEN WE ARE GONE. H-SHEM GAVE MEN THE CHALLENGE OF TORAH CIVILIZING PRINCIPLES & STRONG BODIES THAT PINE LIKE CHILDREN. H-SHEM GAVE THE TORAH TO “THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL & THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL”. THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL REFERS TO WOMEN WHO ARE BELIEVED TO MORE INHERENTLY FOLLOW TORAH PRINCIPLES; & THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, BEING MEN & CHILDREN. AT LEAST WE HAVE THE TORAH. THEREFORE, IN THIS CASE, FREEDOM IS NOT THE HIGHEST MORAL OPERATIVE, JUSTICE IS. PARTICULARLY, JUSTICE IN THE FORM OF MODESTY. THIS IS SOMETHING WE MEN NEED FROM YOU WOMEN SO THAT WE DO NOT BEHAVE AS IDIOTS IN PUBLIC OR IN PRIVATE. IT IS ONE THING TO BE STUPID FOR YOU WOMEN, BUT ANOTHER THING TO BE AN IDIOT. AND THEREFORE, FREEDOM TAKEN IN EXCESS IS OBVIOUSLY SOCIALLY DETRIMENTAL. MOSHE
30. Modesty Article
Em Zar   (01.02.07)
The writer of the article is less than impartial when using terms such as "dreamt up by the men..." Whether or not one abides by the dress code, the writer should at least have the courtesy not to belittle the rabbis advising it. These rabbis are respected by their communities for their expertise in interpreting Torah teachings.
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