Whats wrong with leggings? if someone weres tights and a short skirt shes tzniyus but if she weres a long skirt, tzniyus neck line and covers her elbows but weres leggings shes not tzniyus??

This story is printed in the sefer “The Rebbe on modesty”

DRESSING IN GOOD TASTE

Rabbi Shneur Zalman Gafni recalls a yechidus at which the Rebbe spoke sharply about tznius:

The Rebbe was very agitated, and there was anger in his voice:

“Now the style has become to wear clothing that reaches the ground. That’s the brainstorm of some crazy goy in Paris! Should Jewish women be taking cues from some goy in Paris?! Is that how it ought to be?!”

I was taken aback. The Rebbe was speaking with such vehemence.

The Rebbe continued: “Immoral people today have contrived to make tight clothing the fashion. It accentuates the body and arouses men’s desires. Long and tight clothes are the brainchild of these people.

“The knees must be covered while a woman is seated, and this isn’t always the case. Her clothes must therefore extend at least 10 centimeters beneath the knees to ensure they remain covered. I’m not deciding the length, that’s the job of Rabbonim. I’m simply stating the minimum. And may blessings rest upon whoever adds
to it.

“This isn’t to say that women shouldn’t dress well – but the clothing must be appropriate, even though the designers try to make it inappropriate. The proper approach is to create tasteful, respectable clothing, neither too long nor too tight.”

As a teacher myself, I agree wholeheartedly with your points. And I will add, as a woman, that my personal example of Tznius also “goes a long way” in nonverbally encouraging my girls (students, guests, etc.) to see this as positive. “Bais Yaakov standards” need not include only drab colors or button-down shirts; embrace the colors Hashem put in our world, tastefully and with dignity!

I agree 100%

100% right

The only real solution is to create a vaad (council) of influential people who are not afraid of backlash or bullying, and who will set clear standards for our mainstream schools. These standards must be implemented across the board, with accountability. If a girl refuses to comply, she should not be allowed to remain in the school.

Only with such a strong and united approach can we stop this tidal wave of the tznius problem in our community.

Mitzvahs and halacha – including, let’s say, open desecration of shabbos and kashrus – should be put on the side for the sake of sholom bayis.

As the Rebbe said: Mussar focuses on what you did bad, Chassidus focuses on how you need to CHANGE…

I had to buy uniforms skirts for my high schooler and the lengths being sold are problematic. But you know what? I recall in 10th grade we all were wearing skirts to the floor, there was no such thing as a short skirt. Then some mechanchos decided it wasn’t aidle enough and made everyone shorten their skirts mid year officially to mid calf but of course that’s not what actually happened and now we have an actual breach of tznius in the uniform and it’s been 20 years since.

Girls need to be taught what basic non negotiable halacha is first and foremost. Arbitrary standards of aidlekeit should be discussed and farbrenged about and even enforced as part of the dress code but let’s be very careful not to pretend that violating the school dress code is the same thing as violating halacha, because way way too many girls have been given that idea and they’re now the mothers of this next generation and unfortunately it shows.

Like I tell my daughter when I need to remind her to put on socks or pull her skirt down or get a neckline taken in, “I didn’t invent these halachos, I can’t give you permission to break them”. Everything else, the style of shoes, hair ect, we can have a discussion about but actual shulchan aruch we keep the same as we keep kashrus and shabbos.

This myth that the Rebbe only preached positive and never upheld standards can only be said by someone who gets their image of the Rebbe from edited clips. Learn the Rebbe’s original sichos and igros and you will see plenty of strong demands and (gasp!) criticism.

Yes, there are standards and expectations. It can and should be said nicely, but at the end of the day there are clear standards that one is expected to conform to.

This “positive only” attitude (which ironically only comes up regarding Yiddishkeit standards, not when someone touches their stuff etc.) ruins mosdos and communities. Any infrastructure relies on hard rules to exist. You can be soft on individuals, but as a community, we need to uphold fixed standards.

How can we expect the girls to respect tznius when their teachers and principals don’t?! And the day cam staff are way, way worse in their tznius. Hashem y’rachem.

Now, as an adult heavily involved in chinuch, let me tell you — the article is not addressing and not comprehending the main point that this all centers upon.

We can no longer take for granted that our daughters will accept Yiddishkeit. We need to sell it to them. We need to show them, convince them, that Halacha — as we understand it and practice it — sees them as equal. It is not oppressive to them, not trying to make them invisible or responsible for men’s conduct. Halacha is full of beauty, respect, and dignity for a woman as a woman.

We have to be careful that every class, every word, every proclamation contains those ideals. Many of our daughters are critical, sensitive, deep thinkers — and for many, that is where the challenge in this area comes from. Other Charedi circles may not mold girls with that specific set of traits. I’m so proud of our community and the traits it cultivates.

There are 3 stories at least when the Rebbe was asked how the standards of dress should be in Chabad to which the Rebbe responded “like in Bais Yaakov of Bnei Brak and Yerushalayim”. Yes, despite the fact that we are Lubavitchers who have our own chassidus, minhagim and hashkofa etc… nevertheless this is their strong point in those communities that we must learn from, adopt and adapt to those higher and proper standards of tznius and mode of dress.
I heard a remarkable shiur addressing the dress in Chabad. The question posed was: how is it that amonst Chabad chassidim who are so careful and makpid on Lubavitcher shechita, pas, bishul and cholov yisroel 212, have unbelievable fervor for mivtzoim and shlichus – and at the same time are in the back seat way behind other chassidishe and even Litvishe communities in tznius? It’s just too ironic with no sense to it.
The answer posed was: Apparently, from the onset of the world’s beginning with Odom and Chava which were originally without clothes – resulting in the snake desiring chava and in the aftermath with the chet etz hadaas with all the issues that came along, primarily with the need for clothing. Therfore we see that the beginning and end are very dependent on each other particularly concerning clothing. Namely, that now when we are holding by the threshold of redemption – ikvisa demishicha – the soton and sitra achra realize that their end is very near; thereby their last thrust of adrenaline and last flickers of attempted survival is directed towards this very topic of tznius – all directed directly at those who are on the forefront fighting on the front lines for moshiach and geulah in every way – namely chabad chassidim! No wonder they look the way they do. Nonetheless, G-d forbid for any of us to use this as a cop out answer to justify any compromising of halacha to legitimatize improper standards of tznius and dress. On the contrary, realizing this must empower all of us to redouble our strength and courage to fortify tznius full thrust on all levels by men and women together – in thought, speech, action and especially dress to finalize the victory over this long golus.

I know plenty of “Chassidishe women and Shluchos” who will never wear leggings. Don’t generalize. There are still “Chassidishe” people.

I’m not intending to bash anyone, but I must agree with this assessment. I too live in Eretz Yisroel and the contrast is very disturbing. Boruch Hashem I had several Chassunos to attend in the past few weeks. At the Litvish/Yeshivish Chassunos the girls were all dressed tastefully, beautifully, and completely Tzanua (with rare and minor exceptions) and the less-Tzanua were older women relatives from more modern communities. At one Chabad Chassuna it was the exact opposite! Especially at an event of such Kedusha this is Mamash such a shame…

“If our girls go down spiritually, we will all go down spiritually”
so, so true!! oy!

i dont beleive this is a story with the Rebbe bat rather a diffrent chassidic rebbe