I am secular-observant type. I wear pants and tea-shirts and my daughter goes to religious school. We all knew their rules and requirements. No one forced us to go to this school but it was our choice. Even schoold explained us that these are our rules and if you agree then only come to this school. My daughter acts according to school rules and even we have forbidden her to break rules as we accepted them willingly. Once she finishes the school (bagrut), she is free to wear what she wants. This girl knew exactly what are the rules and what decision she is taking. She must face the consequences.

Especially when you allow your daughters to dress like prostitutes and expect no one to react. I fail to understand how showing off more flesh is liberating while covering up is more is a symbol of oppression. Perhaps religious women have more self respect, higher self esteem and dignity than their non religious female counterparts do since they don't feel its necessary to flaunt their bodies to strange men unlike hiloni girls who crave for the attention.And you wonder why sexual harassment is more prevalent in that part of the world.Its disrespectful to show up to shul in low cut tight jeans.I've seen people dress that way and though I didn't say anything, I felt disgusted at them.Even the Reform and Conservative dress more modestly and refined when going to their synagogues.I don't approve of the grungy skimpy attire and I wouldn't allow anyone to show up at my social affairs dressed as such. If you think I am being a religious extremist, would you think its acceptable to dress that way going to see Bibi Netanyahu? If this girl decided to partake in a beauty pageant, that's her choice. A school is allowed to establish set standards for students to abide by. If she violated them in any way, they have a right to express their disapproval in her activities.Most religious schools want to hold by a reputation of promoting Torah principles and values.Students (and parents) who attend these schools are required to respect that. If she felt they were being to extreme and unacceptable of her extra curricular activities , then she could have gone to a different school that would have been more tolerant.Simple as that.

The ugliest of all girls in religious schools ? As everywhere , there are some , but there are also beautyfull ones and i often say : sad that such a nice girl is in such an environnement . Your tb is very racist . To others . Her dress is not what religious people , who are not even charidi , would call modest . Her shoulders and arms are naked . But she's a very nice girl , and she may show it .

No where in Torah does it say a woman can't be beatiful. have style, have a good head or hair or be comared to other women in a contest. What it does say however is that there is no adding of laws. True it warns of dressing daughters as harlots but it doesn't say cherim and denying an education is the result should one dress at a harlot once or twice. What are G-d's words on this and what are illegal Torah additions by non-prophets and second person books by unknown authors? We know.

@5 you are right, and how democratic lol

I don't know by which religion's standards this young lady describes herself as being religious, but it's not Judaism. In Judaism, religious girls don't walk around with their shoulders naked, her whole arms visible and wearing 3 layers of make-up and half hugging a man. On a personal note, as a man I must observe: she's ugly.

Is that some of them would actually encourage their daughters to dress like mini hookers ; let alone not have a problem with it.I see girls as young as 8 wearing mini dresses and makeup and I wonder what values are their parents trying to instill on them.How do they want people to perceive their daughters dressed the way they are?And you wonder why you have sex predators stalking your kids.I fail to understand what it so liberating about dressing very scantly. You can still look ravishing and dress tastefully without baring so much flesh.There are plenty of us who dress modestly and don't feel repressed by it.People will judge you based on what you wear.Religious women in general have more self respect and dignity than those who are not.Even religious men carry a more refined distinguished aura than non religious men.Dressing modestly also applies to men. Even guys have guidelines they must adhere to.In most religious circles, its not acceptable for guys to wear low riding tight jeans, wife beaters,and tight shirts in public.Its also not becoming of them to dress like crack dealers either.We also posses inner beauty as well as outer beauty.We just don't think its within our character to flaunt it.Our bodies are not for strangers to desire or pleasure themselves with.Most people with a high self esteem will not feel the need to dress less to seek attention.Modesty is more about self respect than it is about suppressing one's sexual impulses. As far as what Maayan did, that is her own business.If she took part in a beauty pageant, then that was her choice. But there are consequences that follow. If her school did not encourage such activity, then she should have obey them. Schools have the right to establish their set standards and students must abide by their rules.The school she went to was trying to promote Torah values and principles.They have the right to intervene if students disrespect their protocols.They can enforce punishment upon those who engage in activities that contradict their rules. If she was unable to live up to their standards, then she could have gone to a different school where they would have had more tolerance for her activities. Sleeveless dresses does not fit the bill as modest attire.I'm happy that she won but she should have know that repercussions would follow.

"after she participated in, and won, a beauty contest." Ummm... she never participated... nor did she win in a beauty contest. NOWHERE in the Megillah or the Talmud or the Medresh says this. She was taking AGAINST HER WILL.

"Will some one in the government tell the black hats what they may do with themselves. Let Israel be a true democratic state. " I know living in NY, you have little clue on life here... but this is NOT a 'black hat' school. It's a religious ZIONIST school...

you should pray to god to do miracles if he wants to be taken seriously otherwise he belongs along with other superstition. and your preach here turns worthless.

"What people are not understanding I think that what this girl and her supporters are just not getting is that she was being judged by her looks and figure, regardless of what she was wearing. This goes against all the principles of women's role in Jewish society. " K , Israel (04.13.11) You could not be more WRONG! The entire modern day shidduch system is BASED on these principles. After ascertaining how much money her parents/grandparents have and how much support they are willing to offer, the next question is what she looks like or what size the girl is!

Well maybe you should take your prayers more seriously if you want G-d to answer you. Maybe you should learn more about your roots and respect the traditions of your ancestors. Maybe you should dress more accordingly in a house of worship.You can't expect to get a job or have people take you seriously if you show up wearing torn jeans. Otherwise don't expect G-d to perform miracles for you if you don't believe in His existence.Why should He do any favors for you if you think this is all hype and superstitious?

person and I would say that the dress is immodest by many conservative standards: you can see her cleavage through the ribbon in front; that's immodest. No where near as immodest as you find elsewhere. But if she was expected to be modest by the religious standards that she subscribed to, even outside of school, and was specifically warned not to participate and violate those standards and did it anyway, then she made a mature decision by choosing that path and should further show her maturity by accepting the consequences.

Y.H.V.H / YESHUA MASHIACH, doesn't care about beauty on the outside but the inside. The beauty contest was a waste of time but congrats

If she's so ugly, why are you looking & drooling 613 Mitzvot, which one them defines modesty of dress ?

Yes but the school has no right to intervene with her private life!

"613 Mitzvot, which one them defines modesty of dress ? " Good question. Which one describes shitta in kashrus? Which one describes tefillin? Where does it say you have to put black boxes on your head? Learn chumash properly and you'll have an answer to these questions. Stay ignorant and you'll continue to have these questions.

I asked a direct question, hoping that someone out there would give me the specifics You obviously didn't, telling me to look for myself Thanks, tu no thanks Surely, you in your infinite wisdom should have been able to direct me to what I was seeking Chumash entails many discussion, a lot of them of opposing opinions Nice try, no cigar !

Jewish Taliban...

I'm sorry you missed my point. My point was there are MANY halachos that are not one of the 613 mitzvos. Modesty is one of those many.

The Rabbi/ Principle of thisschool is a jerk. He should be ashamed for harming this girl's future rather than trying to ensure she stays on the derekh. I agree there are rules about tzniut, but this is her private life. Acting to destroy her education is acting to ruin her life. Congrats idiot, you just created one more secular anti religion israeli in gedera- nice job.

My response flew over your head, I want to see where the requirement is documented, thus far, all you have displayed ia a loaf of gas

it would seem that not every school principal is a great leader, or even a good teacher. israel is full of people in "jobs" for which they are not suited, except by marriage or other family connections. a good educator would have investigated the beauty contest more thoroughly, and been more concerned with the girl's future (and matriculation), than with enforcing a rule which may or may not even apply in this case. (since those who actually saw the contest claim that it WAS modest.)

The girl is beautiful. Her mother and dad and the girl wanted to show it to the world. However, the school has rules. If she don't want to follow their rules then get out. Don't show such rebellion and try to change what is good. She had a choice. She made it now don't try to force your choices on others. Now do you feel pretty because you won the contest. If you keep this up you will be ugly inside.