Under the guidance and encouragement of maranan verabonon
gedolei Yisroel including Maran HaRav Eliashiv
shlita, the Mishmar HaTorah Beis Din was set up to
deliberate and to issue clear instructions regarding modest
appearance for women.
The idea was backed by HaRav Eliashiv, HaRav Shmuel Halevi
Wosner and HaRav Nissim Karelitz, who appointed to the
special beis din HaRav Ezriel Auerbach, HaRav Moshe
Shaul Klein, HaRav Yehuda Silman, HaRav Yisroel Gans, HaRav
Naftoli Nussbaum, HaRav Boruch Shraga and HaRav Yitzchak
Darzi.
The rabbonim were named to the beis din at a gathering
held at the home of Maran HaRav Eliashiv. According to a
krias kodesh signed by Maran, "Benos Yisroel
kesheiros vetzenuos yearn to hear dvar Hashem —
zu halochoh in order to know how to conduct themselves,
what attire the Torah permits and proper conduct in other
matters of Torah and modesty.
"Although many of them are uninformed or inattentive
[regarding these matters], they are dressed in a manner not
in keeping with the ways of modesty according to halochoh.
This issue is of the utmost importance to [Am Yisroel] and
the future of kedushas Yisroel depends on upholding
the modesty guidelines. As such it has been decided to set up
the Mishmar HaTorah Beis Din, comprised of well-known
rabbonim, dayonim and moreh horo'oh who will
issue clear instructions on how to keep the demands of Torah
and yir'oh, particularly in matters related to women's
modesty, and to set the proper conduct for issues on the
agenda."
The beis din has already issued a letter noting the
importance of not following the ways of the non-Jews in terms
of clothing and hairstyles, which is brought down in
halochoh, in order to remain distinct from them in terms of
clothing and conduct, and to wear clothes that meet modesty
standards and accord with the guidelines. The letter also
says that girls' schools and seminaries have an even stronger
obligation to stand firm against breaches by the staff, the
students and the students' mothers, both at school and away
from school, including at family celebrations.
"We are certain," write gedolei Yisroel, "that
acheinu bnei Yisroel hayerei'im ledevar Hashem will
pledge to safeguard kedushas Yisroel and be cautious
and exacting in all of the halochos and guidelines in
accordance with the instructions issued by the beis din
tzedek. And in the merit of kedushas Yisroel, may
we merit the Divine Presence in Yisroel and the arrival of
Goel Tzedek, omen."
The members of the beis din visited the homes of HaRav
Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman and HaRav Shmuel Halevi Wosner
shlita to receive their blessings.
