[Avodah] Why Jewish Women should NOT wear a Burka

[chana at kolsassoon.org.uk]

Further on the question of the meaning of the word tzenius, RMB wrote 
in a earlier post:


:> tzeni'us has two meanings. Originally, it referred to not calling
:> undue attention to oneself, trying to avoid the spotlight.

And has in various posts suggested that this is understood, perhaps by 
all, to be at least one meaning of the word today.

However even that I am not convinced is universal.

Take a modern day case:  Recently in the Jewish Tribune (Charedi paper 
here in England) there has been increasing coverage of what are often 
called "gala concerts" or "gala performances", where, with the proceeds 
going to charity, women perform for other women by singing, dancing, 
acting etc etc.  The numbers attending these performances appear to be 
getting bigger and bigger, to the extent that they organisers are now 
needing to hire out bigger and bigger halls - so that it sounds like 
hundreds if not thousands of women are now attending these events.  And 
not only that, I have seen advertisements in the Jewish Tribune asking 
women whether they "have a talent they wish to showcase" and if so, to 
come along and audition for such events.

Now, attention seeking is a very negatively loaded term, but the 
reality is that if you choose to step onto a stage in front of an 
audience, you are seeking their attention, and you succeed if you get 
it.  The organisers would no doubt characterise what they are doing as 
"sharing their G-d given talents" with other women - and the audience 
would no doubt agree.  However, one cannot get away from the fact that 
the aim of any performer is to seek attention.

Now are these performances tznius?  Clearly the Jewish Tribune and the 
Charedi press think they are - they would never report on them if they 
did not.  So long as any potential issue of a dvar erva is eliminated 
(which it is by having the audience consist solely of women), attention 
seeking in and of itself is not considered to be not tznius.

Of course according to RHS's definition of tznius, which is one that 
RMB appears to have adopted, one in no shape or form could consider 
these gala concerts tznius.  Nor for that matter would a male stand up 
comic be considered tznius - and presumably such a person would not be 
found in an ideal Torah society, except to the extent that they 
reluctantly put themselves into the spotlight with the sole aim of, 
say, teaching Torah.  It is, ironically for somebody who is generally 
more associated with a Torah "im" approach, more of a Torah only 
perspective than even is found amongst those who are generally 
considered to espouse Torah only - because while for a man it might be 
bittel Torah, at least for a woman amongst women there is a recognition 
and validation of a singing/dancing/performing gift and the desire to 
draw attention to that gift, without it being considered against Torah.

> -Micha

Regards

Chana



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