Numbers Chapter 24 - Torah Reading for Balak
Verse 14 וְעַתָּ֕ה הִנְנִ֥י הוֹלֵ֖ךְ לְעַמִּ֑י לְכָה֙ אִיעָ֣צְךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יַעֲשֶׂ֜ה הָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֛ה לְעַמְּךָ֖ בְּאַחֲרִ֥ית הַיָּמִֽים׃
And now, as I go back to my people, let me inform you ... what this people will do to your people in days to come.”
Rashi: COME AND I WILL COUNSEL THEE what you have to do. And what is the counsel? The God of these people hates unchastity/ immorality, therefore tempt them to sin by means of thy women-folk.
Balaam wanted the people to stumble through sexual immorality. From this we can learn that sexual morality is important.
Man is created in the image of God. Therefore, it is important to treat the body with respect. One way to do that is to cover one's body appropriately, for man is not like an animal walking around naked. The clothing of man and woman should not be such that it can lead to immorality.
For Jewish women, the upper body should be completely covered with a high neckline, the arms covered beyond the elbows and the legs covered beyond the knees. These rules for Jewish women are guidelines (but not strictly required) for Noahides.
Noahides women may wear pants (if it is accepted within their social environment), but the knees must be covered even when sitting and the pants must not be tight or otherwise appear seductive.
A hair covering for married women is not mandatory, but if women wish to go in the path of righteousness and humility before G-d can also choose to follow this practice. (For example, one can also wear a head covering during prayer, or a hair band in daily life as an intermediate form)
Recall that one of the reasons for the Flood was sexually immoral behavior.
Supplementary said that fashion style is not only clothing, but also body language, the way you speak etc.
Brought By Angelique Sijbolts
Angelique Sijbolts is one of the main writers for the Noahide Academy. She has been an observant Noahide for many years. She studies Torah with Rabbi Perets every week. Angelique invests much of her time in editing video-lectures for the Rabbis of the Academy and contributes in administrating the Academy's website in English and Dutch. She lives in the north of the Netherlands. Married and mother of two sons. She works as a teacher in a school with students with special needs. And is a Hebrew Teacher for the levels beginners en intermediate. She likes to walk, to read and play the piano.
Sources
The Divine Code
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