Raising the Bar

By Tania Youseffi

The emerging trend within ultra-Orthodox communities of Israel does not get its inspiration from the runway or latest designer collection, but rather from a traditional custom rooted in Islamic religion.

So, what is modesty and what sort of relevance does it hold for religious women?

Recently, a few women of the Ultran-Orthodox Israeli circles have expressed cocern for hteir lack of modesty in their daily clothing choices.

The "Burka", a piece of traditional Muslim garb designed to cover a woman's face and body as a means of protecting a women's dignity is intented to act as the ultimate form of descretion, restricting their physical exposure to their husbands alone.

Seen as radical and unnecessary by the greater Jewish population, these select Orthodox comunities argue that they are taking a step that is heightenin their religious experience and bringing them hope for redemption.

The line between culturally-induce modesty of Kabul, Afghanistan and religously-connotated modesty of Bet Shemesh, Israel is being blurred.

The Times online reported that about 100 women in Bet Shemesh have been following trendsetter, Rebbetzin Bruria Keren in this move toward a new kind of conformity.

The Hebrew paper Maariv published details of the Rebbetzin's daily attire, which include "Ten thick skirts, seven long capes, six scarves tied in front of the head and three more in the back."

This "pious" move only helps to increase divisions within the Jewish community itself. People abiding by Orthodoxy's traditional code of modesty may now feel alienated by the new "Burka Jew."

I can only pray that this is no indication of where Orthodox Judaism is heading.