Not over every problem do gedolei Yisroel led by Maran
HaRav Eliashiv shlita all come in person to attend a
kenes aimed at improving the situation. In their
capacity as advisors of countless individuals and
organizations, they would certainly come only when they see
for themselves the tremendous need to deal with a growing
issue that has caused serious damage and could, if not
checked, do much worse.
The thousands who came to hear the message of gedolei
Yisroel at the kenes also showed, by their very
presence, that the subject is of deep importance to them.
The subject of tsnius is a make-or-break issue for
Klal Yisroel. It lies at our very core. Just as even
the peripheral problems of a vital organ such as the heart or
the brain cause serious concern if they crop up, so there are
no aspects of the tsnius complex that are trivial or
of low importance. These are not chumras or excesses
of religiosity but the very soul of our people. They must be
addressed with the same seriousness whether they arise in the
middle of Jerusalem or at the outskirts of Gateshead. The
solution may be adapted to the particular circumstances, but
the issue has the same seriousness wherever it arises.
Nothing in this area may be dismissed as of no
consequence.
Throughout the generations, our greatest enemies tried to
destroy us by undermining our standards in this area. Bilaam
advised Bolok the king of Moav that our Divine Protector
hates such breakdowns, and Bolok attacked us with temptations
that caused the deaths of thousands. Medrash Eichoh
Rabboh said that Nevuzaradon briefed his troops about
this issue as they sought successfully to destroy
Yerushalayim and the first Beis Hamikdosh. Homon also
told Achashverosh about this secret as he advised him about
making the great feast that proved the cause of one of the
most serious threats that Klal Yisroel ever faced
(Yalkut Shimoni 1057).
Tsnius is not just a set of behaviors, though it
certainly includes standards for things like clothing and
personal contacts, it is also — really primarily
— a kind of mindset and way of being. It is an
important and worthwhile goal not only to adopt the proper
behavior, but also to become the type of person who is
tsonu'a in essence.
There are no terms to describe the inner core of a person's
being, but it can be talked around and examples given.
One of the key terms is being a private person, one who looks
for worth in one's own behavior and not in the way one is
perceived by others. Most of the standards for dress, for
example, are to avoid clothing that draws the attention of
others. One should not need that kind of superficial
attention and it should not be part of one's identity to seek
it out.
The non-Torah world does not even consider this kind of
lifestyle as an option. Fame, recognition and publicity are
goals pursued without a second thought. A woman is
complimented by saying that she looks "attractive," without
any thought as to why of whether she would want to look that
way.
The highest goals of a Torah life are defined in terms of who
and what we are deep inside, and not just by how we appear on
the outside. But it is a firm principle that we must be
thorough and consistent, and must not neglect the externals
in pursuit of our true inner selves.
Maranan verabonon and the many participants expressed
the strong need that there is for work in this area. It is up
to each and every one of us to meet this challenge, for
ourselves and for the safety of Klal Yisroel as a
whole.
