י׳ סיון ה׳תשפ״ו | May 26, 2026
Harav Heller Speaks Out on Tznius in Modern Media
A newly released letter by Crown Heights Rov and Rosh Kolel, Harav Yosef Avrohom Heller, is stirring wide discussion after he addressed the issue of public display of women in print and online media.
A newly released letter by Crown Heights Rov and Rosh Kolel, Harav Yosef Avrohom Heller, is stirring wide discussion after he addressed the issue of public display of women in print and online media.
The letter was written in response to a query by R’ Motty Gurary of Bnos Menachem on whether it was appropriate to publicize pictures of women within our circles.
In his response letter, Harav Heller writes that the separation between men and women is among the core foundations of tznius and holiness in Yiddishkeit, and Chazal took great caution to uphold this separation even in the Beis Hamikdash.
Throughout the generations, he notes, the Rebbeim and chassidim were especially careful with their sight even in situations that were technically permitted, following the Torah guidance towards sanctity and refinement.
Harav Heller points to the Rebbe’s well-known campaign demanding proper mechitzos and complete separation at chassunos and public gatherings, noting how the Rebbe fought to strengthen standards of tznius at a time when mixed seating was still common in many frum circles. The Rebbe further insisted on mechitzos high enough to fully prevent visibility between the men’s and women’s sections.
Addressing the issue at hand, Harav Heller writes decisively that publicizing photos of women, even when dressed according to halacha, contradicts the very concept of tznius. Beyond the concern of men viewing women, such public exposure conflicts with the ideal of modesty and privacy that Jewish women embody.
Harav Heller further urges avoidance of any publication or forum that does not follow the standards of tznius and kedusha established by the Rebbeim, calling instead for unwavering adherence to the path of Torah and Chassidus.
The following is the full text of the letter (free translation):
To R’ Mordechai Shmuel שי’ Gurary,
In response to your question whether it’s appropriate to publicize pictures of women among Anash:
The separation between men and women is one of the foundations of tznius and kedusha, and it is a significant factor in ensuring that Hashem’s presence rests among us. Chazal exhorted us to maintain this separation and even changed the setup of the Beis Hamikdash to help preserve it.
We also know how much our Rebbeim and their chassidim avoided any type of inappropriate sight, even when technically permitted—in line with the instruction of Chazal to sanctify ourselves in what is permitted— though, for tznius reasons, they didn’t speak extensively about it.
We especially know how much the Rebbe campaigned to ensure there should be proper mechitzos and separation at weddings and other gatherings. He pushed this at a time when even many frum weddings had mixed seating at the meal, and he didn’t rest until he changed the landscape in this area. The Rebbe also emphasized that the mechitzah should be high enough to ensure the men shouldn’t be able to see the women at all.
Now to your question:
To post or publicize pictures of women – even when they are dressed entirely tznius – stands in complete contradiction to the notion of tznius, particularly among Anash. Besides for the issue of men looking at women, such conduct is not in line “kol kevuda bas melech pnima” and the lifestyle of modesty suited for a Jewish woman.
Any forum or publication that doesn’t follow the traditional path shown to us by our Rebbeim in the area of tznius and kedusha should be avoided. Instead, we should strengthen ourselves in the path of Torah and Chassidus without compromise.
May it be Hashem’s will that in the zechus of properly safeguarding our standards of tznius, Hashem will fulfill His promise that “our camp will be holy.” With this, we will merit very soon to see the true and complete geulah with Moshiach Tzidkeinu, may it happen immediately!
COMMENTS
A true, authentic rov שליט”א, who voices daas Torah and doesn’t bend to pressure. Thank you for posting this letter.
Compliments to the Compass Magazine for shluchim that doesn’t include photos of the shluchos!
There’s an obvious difference between publications meant for not frum Yidden and one that is meant for Anash.
Kfar Chabad magazine doesn’t put photos of women. I believe Beis Moshiach as well.
שאלה:
מהו גדרו של ספר השלוחים שנדפס ע”י מזכירות כ”ק אדמו”ר
ובו מודפסים תמונות של נשים?
The Rebbe initiated and encouraged the publishing of a special collection of shluchim’s photos to strengthen the achdus among shluchim. The Rebbe did not say that Anash and bochurim should stare at the women in the photos…
This is very different than a magazine or online platform showing large photos of women. This is encouraging Anash and bochurim to look at those photos.
Once you read the first half of his response and see where he’s coming from, his answer in the second half just feels like it makes so much sense. Appreciating the value of Tznius and then seeking to act contrary to it (even if Halachically ok) just feels like a direct contradiction.
I have long been bothered by the lack of sensitivity in posting photos of women on public display. It’s wrong for both the men seeing it and the women in the photo.
BH someone is speaking up.
A related issue is for a woman to speak in front of men. A woman would never get up and speak in front of a group of chassidim. Yet today a woman will get up at a simcha and speak to both the men and the women.
One mosad I know even had a woman come and speak to rebbis…
A mechitza means that there are two sides, one for men and one for women.
When not publicizing pictures of women they aren’t on any side of the mechitza.
This “cancellation” is what is causing major pushback by many women who feel “cancelled” and therefore reject the tznius sensitivity.
There needs to be a way to create an ezras noshim without cancelling pictures of women altogether.
Anash.org has a designated section for women’s pictures.
In Kan Tziva the Rebbe’s Shchunah we don’t have to watch out for pushbacks when standing up for the right thing if we were to do that we would be holding nowhere…
Which other Hamishe community set the standards cause of concern of pushback …??!
I appreciate the spirit and standards of Tznius (I’ve taught it as well.) I think there’s a distinction of women as an equal and important part of society, such as in Sefer HaShluchim, family pictures etc, and pictures where women are being used or posing/ publishing themselves, as advertisements which is completely the opposite of Tznius and holiness and should be completely banned. If there’s any pushback to that, those women can use a farbrengen on common sense or what Kedusha and Tznius even means
a Big ישר כוח, to the Rov for being a true גאון יעקב standing guard, and to all platforms – including this very website ANASH.ORG – who follow this הלכה.
maybe will the next appropriate step be talking with “Vaad Talmidei Hatmimim Haolami” about pictures of women in the “Derher” magazine?..
https://nsheichabadnewsletter.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/jacobson-compressed_1.pdf
In his response to Harav Zinner, the Rebbe writes that three conditions have to be present for a photograph of a woman in print to be problematic:
1. You “gaze” at the picture (rather than take a quick look).
2. The picture is in color rather than black and white.
3 . The picture is of someone you know.
S i n c e t h e s e t h r e e conditions do not apply to the picture of the Rebbetzin, there is no problem, particularly since not publishing the
picture might minimize the impact of the article. The goal of the article is v’hachai yiten el libo —the living shall take to heart.
I do not consent to anyone taking pictures or videos of me, unless I explicitly verbally tell you I want you to take my picture. Thank you.
I am certain I am not the only one who feels this way. This definitely includes when I attend your chabad events.
kudos
I see some photos of new shluchim (on other websites) and they are a disgrace. The husband and wife are touching and leaning on each other. This is wrong according to halacha and definitely not suitable for people who call themselves the Rebbe’s shluchim.
Or some shluchim on campus that you see a picture and you can’t figure out who is the shliach and who is the student