Reply To: Assorted Tzniyus/Pritzus Questions

Charliehall:

Hard to avoid scantily clad women in the hot summers.

That should be more of a reason to careful, not less. The more widespread a danger, the more vigilance is necessary.

yekke2:

You apparently missed the point of the thread. #KTCRIM (+1 to mw13!!)

🙂

Of course, there is chiyuv lehalachah – not just a nice minhag, but a chiyuv – to avoid any unnecessary interaction with immodesty. Going to a mixed beach where there is certain pritzus is assur for any Jewish male. I think the only hetter is going to be ?? ???? ??? ??????; if it is possible to order clothes without going to a shopping mall in the summer, you may well be mechuyav to do that.

Agreed. The question, how do we define “unnecessary”? For example, what if I can get a nicer or cheaper shirt in the mall?

I know quite a few people who take off their glasses in the streets in the summer. Not gedoilei yisroel, not chassidishe kedoshim, but regular Litvishe balabatim who don’t see the need to see everything that crosses their path.

I’ve done that myself more than a few times when the situation called for it (ie, the presence of individuals who were not dressed to the standards of modesty I’m accustomed to), and I highly suggest it.

I don’t see how anybody would be able to draw a line, as you asked. At least in principles, any self respecting Yorei Shamayim will tell you that he wouldn’t compromise standards. In practice, however, it is easier said than done.

I’ll admit that “draw the line” may not have been the best terminology to use in this context. This is not entirely a black and white issue, where everything can labeled “muttar” or “assur”. But I’d still like to see where people draw different graduations of gray. And even if we can’t come out with an actual list of dos and don’ts, its still important to just bring awareness to these issues.

GAW:

While there are certainly places that are problematic in the winter as well, the problem is more widespread in summer. For example, I would go to an amusement park in the fall or winter, but not in the heat of the summer.