A religious community in Israel has recently found itself in the middle of a heated debate after observant residents complained to the local committee about a secular member who dressed in a manner they deemed immodest.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Several complaints were filed with the committee, one of which criticized the woman for wearing a tank top, a piece of clothing considered unacceptable according to religious law.
The matter prompted a discussion over whether a community can obligate a member to dress in a certain way or if a member can be expected to uphold certain standards.
One resident pointed out that "there were never any clothing rules in this community, and there shouldn't be," and as such," the committee should not get involved."
I find the conversation itself is immodest, she said, as forcing a woman to dress modestly so as not to draw a man's attention is actually objectifying her.
Nevertheless, others pointed out that each place has its own unwritten social rules that need to be respected.
"The dress norms are undoubtedly part of the character of a place. If someone deviates from those norms extremely, he or she is violating this character, and sometimes, even the values of those who established it and shaped it," one resident said.
Debates over religious attire and modesty have become prevalent in many observant communities in Israel, which used to be fairly homogenous in the past but have slowly been populated by less strictly observant or completely secular members.
More often than not, non-observant residents who live in a religious neighborhood follow some of the rules accepted by the community, such as refraining from driving on the Shabbat or breaking the laws pertaining to the holy day in public.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
