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The following is from an article by Rav Dr. Joseph Breuer,
ZT"L, that appeared in the
<font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>Mitteilungen, Vol. 2, June
1941<br><br>
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=4>Timely Notes for the
Summer<br><br>
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>Can the heat of summer be
termed “oppressive”? That is surely<br>
something that is individual. If we think of the terribly oppressive<br>
times a large number of our brethren are going through, we will<br>
gladly tolerate the discomforts of summer and rather bless our<br>
good fortune to be spared such pain.<br><br>
Many of our newly immigrated brothers and sisters are struggling<br>
with heavy economic burdens, and only the few can afford<br>
the much desired relaxing rest. We are pleased for those who can<br>
afford a vacation and expect that they will carefully select, as far
as<br>
the trustworthiness of its kashrus, the place where they plan to<br>
spend their vacation. Obviously, they will not want to take a
vacation<br>
from the “yoke of the Law.” They want to return home, hale<br>
and hearty, and not with a feeling of unease for having risked their<br>
moral values in exchange for physical wellbeing.<br><br>
The heat of summer calls for changes in clothing and appearance.<br>
The conscientious Jew will carefully keep to certain limits,<br>
which he will not overstep. Our Divine Law cautions us to have a<br>
sense of shame, and that applies to summer as well.<br><br>
The Jewish custom —according to the Talmud —requires men<br>
and boys to cover their heads outdoors. God gave the first garment<br>
to man when he forfeited his special standing by disregarding the<br>
Will of God.Modest covering of his body is to be a steady reminder<br>
of the higher calling of man. Jewish men were given the adornment<br>
of tzitzis to admonish them to wear their clothes as proper Jews.<br>
Even in the summer heat, our requirements for covering can easily<br>
be heeded with lighter clothing. Comfort will not cause us to shirk<br>
our duty. A soldier’s helmet is uncomfortably heavy, but he wears<br>
it because it is required; God’s requirement should not be
heeded?<br><br>
As for the Jewish woman, Jewish law requires her to cover her<br>
hair. The true Jewish woman will proudly do so, for it is a sign of <br>
her willingness to adhere to God’s Will as the guide in her life. A<br>
woman unworthy of this sign will have it removed forcibly by the<br>
priest (Bemidbar 5:18). Covering one’s hair is merely a sign if a<br>
woman does not conduct herself otherwise in the properly Jewish<br>
manner. Similarly, there are Jewish men who bear the
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>Milah</i></font>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>-sign on<br>
their bodies but sully their bodies in other ways.<br><br>
Not covering one’s hair is probably — we are sorry to say — a<br>
matter of ignorance, and perhaps such a Jewish woman was not<br>
brought up to understand the importance of covering her hair.<br>
Many women may carefully observe their Jewish duties in other<br>
areas, and we would so much like to adorn them with this special<br>
crown also. For the fact remains: covering of the hair for the
Jewish<br>
woman is a must.<br><br>
The proud Jewish woman will conduct herself Jewishly in her<br>
clothing and in covering her hair. The word
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>Tznius
</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>is a Jewish<br>
concept that is hard to translate exactly. It does not only denote a<br>
“quietly humble way of living” (Michah 6:8), but everything else<br>
that our people has so valued and esteemed in their Jewish women<br>
at all times.<br>
“quietly humble way of living” (Michah 6:8), but everything else<br>
that our people has so valued and esteemed in their Jewish women<br>
at all times.<br><br>
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