Is a Burqa Tzanua?
Walking through Meah Shearim today in search of a new Sofer table(do you have any idea how hard it is to obtain one of those?) dodging in and out of various back alleys. Typically the women, modestly dressed to the varying Chareidi standards simply blend into the background. You don’t notice them. You don’t notice the men either. It is just the way of it when everyone is more or less dressed the same. Acknowledgement of the presence of another human being consists simply of identifying obstacles in your path.
Anyway I found myself in a group of people as a lady in a black burqa rounded the corner. It was a sight to behold. There wasn’t even an eye-slit like the muslims have. Just head to toe Jawa in the latest fashionable black. As I said above, typically you don’t notice people. However, here everyone took notice. The street and crowd just came to a standstill to stare at this oddity walking through their midst. Heads turned to follow her, men’s as well as women’s. Everyone had their eyes locked on this lady, some even pointing.
Now you definitely could see no curves, or form. It was pretty shapeless aside from the point on the top of her head. However, I had this thought. Is this tzanua? I mean the point of tzniut is to not draw attention to yourself, whether male or female. Rav Shalom M. Heddayya ZTzUK”L, despite being the Rosh Yeshiva of the oldest Yeshiva in the world, wouldn’t don a frock and hamburg just for that reason. So my answer has to be no, this isn’t tzanua. Imean look hours later, I’m still thinking about this woman in the burqa. With the reaction, the stop and stare, I’m sure I’m not the only one still thinking about this woman in the burqa.
Far from fading into the background in appearance she stood out.
1) What makes a sofer’s table special? Have you tried Ikea?
2) Our definition of modesty and their definition of modesty differ. Their definition of modesty is: the more you remove any trace of human identity from the woman, the more modest she is. Honestly, if they could figure out a way to create a box so you couldn’t see them at all they’d go around like that. But isn’t it just a logical conclusion? After all, if wrist-length sleeves are more “modest” than elbow length, then covering the hands is even more modest. If a turtle neck is more modest than lower neck collars then covering the face is even more modest. Since tznius is no longer about “hatze’a leches im Elokecha” but now about how much you cover up the woman and hide her body, isn’t this burka the ultimate realization of that ideal?
I saw one of those ladies (not a wearing a burqa but a chador) yesterday and I had the very same thought. I stared at her, and was still thinking about it 30 minutes later, still feeling rather upset by this ridiculous perversion of Halacha.
However I was nowhere near as upset as last month when I saw a girl who was 12 year old (at most) wearing this.
There is absolutely nothing tznuah about fake piety and muslim stringencies.
tamar was zoche to have kings and prophets come from her because she covered her face due to tzniut (gm sota and gm megilla). someones gotta play devils advocate.