[Avodah] Halachic Analysis: The Hillary Photo Controversy

[Prof. Levine]

 From http://tinyurl.com/43afrrg
News Source: VIN News by Rabbi Yair Hoffman

CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, it is safe to say that a simple 
reading of the Talmudic passage is that looking 
at women or photographs of them is 
problematic.  A more nuanced reading of this 
passage in light of the Shulchan Aruch and other 
codes is that it is not a problem – even though 
some individual Poskim still rule stringently.

That is from a halachic point of view.  The media 
circus that has developed around this new 
controversy is very unfortunate because it 
depicts honest, G-d –fearing individuals as being 
anti-women’s rights.  This is wrong and 
immoral.  This mischaracterization is an example 
of building a straw man so that they can be 
knocked down.  This Hasidic group is not the 
Taliban.  To characterize them as totalitarian in 
nature is repulsive and those in the media that have done so should apologize.

The Hasidic newspaper itself though should only 
adjust photos with permission and a disclaimer 
should be appended to the photo whenever they do so.
So who gained in this whole unfortunate 
episode?  Adobe Photoshop, the software company, 
of course.  They received several million dollars in free advertising. :)

See the above URL for the entire article.  YL
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