Chapter 3 : Chapter 3 Laws of Dressing and Conduct

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§1

It is written: "You shall walk modestly with your God.¹Micah 6:8." It is therefore necessary to be modest in all your ways. Thus when putting on or removing your shirt or any other garment from your body²I.e., undergarment. you should be very careful not to uncover your body. You should put on and remove the garment while lying in bed under a cover. You should not say: "I am in a private, and dark place." "Who will see me?" Because the Holy One, Blessed is He, Whose glory fills the entire world [sees] and to Him darkness is like light, Blessed be His Name. Modesty and shame bring a person to submissiveness before Him, Blessed be His name.

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§2

We are not permitted to follow the ways of the gentiles, nor adopt their styles in dress or in hair style or similar things, as it is said: "You shall not follow the ways of the gentile."³Leviticus 20:23. It is [also] said: "In their ways you shall not follow"⁴Leviticus 18:3. It is [also] said: "Guard yourself lest you be ensnared to follow them."⁵Deuteronomy 12:30. You should not wear a garment which is specifically worn by them as a symbol of ostentation, such as a garment of high-ranking officers. For example, the Talmud states:⁶Maseches Sanhedrin 74a. that it is forbidden for a Jew to be similar to them even in regard to shoelaces; if their practice was to tie one way and the practice of Jews to tie another way, or if their practice was to wear red shoelaces and Jews wear black shoelaces because the color black indicates humility, submissiveness and modesty. [In all such instances] it is forbidden for a Jew to deviate. From these examples everyone should learn how to apply these standards to his time and place. A garment designed for showiness or immodesty must not be worn by a Jew, but rather his clothing should be made in a style which suggests humility and modesty. The following is mentioned in Sifrei: You should not say that since they go out with scarlet I shall go out with scarlet, since they go out with kulsin (the word kulsin meaning weaponry) I also shall go out with kulsin, because these practices are indicative of arrogance and haughtiness which are not the heritage of Jacob. Rather, our heritage demands of us to be modest and humble, and not be influenced by the haughty. Similarly, any custom or statute of which there is a suspicion of idolatrous intent or background should be avoided by Jews. Similarly, you should not cut your hair or style your hair as they do, but rather you should be distinct, in your clothing and speech and all other endeavors just as you are distinct in your perspectives and concepts. Similarly, it is said: "I have set you apart from the nations."⁷Leviticus 20:26.

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§3

You should not dress in extravagant clothing because such a practice brings a person to haughtiness, nor should you wear tattered or soiled clothing and appear repulsive in the eyes of people. Rather you should dress in moderate, clean clothing. A person should even sell the beams of his house in order to buy shoes for his feet.

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§4

Since we find that the Torah gives deference to the right hand: in regard to service in the Temple⁸The priest used his right hand when he performed the necessary sacrificial rituals such as the sprinking of the blood. and in regard to the thumb and big toe referred to in the milu'im⁹When Aaron and his sons were consecrated, blood was applied to their right thumbs and big toes. and purification of the metzora and in the mitzvah of chalitzah;¹⁰See Deuteronomy 25:5–10; Maseches Yevamos 104a. therefore in dressing and in other activities you should begin with the right [hand or foot] as opposed to the left [hand or foot.] When removing shoes or other clothing you should first remove the left (because this shows respect for the right.) However, in regard to tying [a lace] the left is held in higher esteem because we tie the tefillin on the left [hand]. Therefore when you tie your shoes, you should first tie the left. For example, with shoes that must be tied, put on the right shoe without tying it, and then the left shoe and tie it, and then tie the right shoe. This also applies to other clothing.¹¹According to Mishnah Berurah this applies only to the shoes.

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§5

You should be careful not to put on two garments simultaneously because this causes forgetfulness.

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§6

It is prohibited to walk four amohs¹²This law applies to males only. According to Mishnah Berurah, in our times, you are not even permitted to sit in the house with an uncovered head. For the equivalents of amoh, see glossary. or to utter sacred words with an uncovered head. Also small children must be trained to cover their heads in order to encourage them to have reverence for God, as it is said of Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak: The mother of Rav Nachman bar Yitzchak was told by Coldai, ("Coldai" referring to astrologers), "Your son will be a thief." [Upon hearing this] she did not permit him to uncover his head. She said to him, "Cover your head in order that there be upon you the reverence of Heaven. (Maseches Shabbos, 156 b.)

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§7

You should not walk with an upright [haughty] posture and an outstretched neck, as it is said: "And they walked with outstretched necks."¹³Isaiah 3:16. Nevertheless, you should not bend your head excessively, but only moderately so that you will be able to see anyone approaching you and also see where you are walking. (Rabbeinu Yonah in Sefer Hayirah). From the way a person walks we can tell if he is wise and intelligent, or if he is a fool and a boor. Thus said King Solomon in his wisdom: "Also in the manner that a fool walks his heart fails him, and he announces to all his foolishness,"¹⁴Koheles 10:3. thereby informing everyone that he is a fool.

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§8

You should be careful not to walk between two women. Similarly, two men should not permit a woman to walk between them.