[Avodah] Tznius for Men

[Prof. Levine]

The following if from today's Hakhel email bulletin.

Special Note Four:  With the summer fast approaching in the Northern 
Hemisphere, the heat and humidity could pose a challenge to the most 
basic standards of Tznius.  We asked Rabbi Dovid Weinberger, Shlita, 
who has given outstanding Shiurim for Hakhel and Bnos Melochim on the 
topic of Tznius, whether he could provide us with the minimum rules 
so that no one was nichshal c'v due to lack of knowledge, by 
regarding a real halacha as 'only a chumra'.  By the following 
link  --  <http://tinyurl.com/6d5p76x>http://tinyurl.com/6d5p76x  -- 
we provide the basic rulings of our Gedolim, and a previous appeal 
issued by the then Va'ad HaRabonim of Far Rockaway.  Any help you can 
provide in spreading the word (and giving chizuk to others) would 
most certainly serve as a Torah counter-measure to the to'eva law 
referred to above.

While one hears much about tznius for women,  I personally have heard 
almost nothing about this issue when it comes to men.  I have from 
time to time wondered why this is the case, particularly in light of 
the following  from http://www.davening.net/tznius.html

Humility is a paramount ideal within Judaism. Moses is referred to as 
"exceedingly humble, more than any man in the world" (Bamidbar 12:3). 
The Jewish people, as a whole, are said to be humble (Talmud, 
Tractate Yevamot 79a.)

Tznius includes a group of laws concerned with modesty, in both dress 
and behavior. It is first mentioned in this context by the prophet 
Micah (6:8): "[...] and to walk humbly (hatzne'a leches) with your God".

Men must wear shirts, with sleeves. Modern Orthodox men will wear 
shorts, but Haredi men will not, and many will not wear short sleeves at all.

Mandatory laws
There are several levels to the observance of physical and personal 
modesty (tznius) according to Orthodox Judaism as derived from 
various sources in halakha.
    * A person should not dwell on lascivious or immoral thoughts.
    * Avert one's eyes from staring at members of the opposite sex, 
particularly at any part of the female anatomy.
    * Keep most of one's body clothed in respectable clothing. Avoid 
the company of uncouth individuals and where an atmosphere of levity 
and depravity prevails.
    * Avoid looking at pictures or scenes that will be sexually arousing.
    * Avoid touching a person of the opposite sex (i.e. by observing 
negiah), especially in a lingering arousing manner (shaking hands 
very quickly in greeting between sexes is a point of dispute, and 
depends on customs).
    * Do not wear the clothing of a member of the opposite sex.
    * Do not erotically hug (chibuk) or kiss (nishuk) your spouse 
unless you are in private and when the wife is definitely not a 
niddah ("menstruant").
Is there perhaps a double standard regarding this issue within the O 
community?  YL

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