Tznius (5) - The Rebbe's Letter - Part I

00:00 The in reference to the earlier installments where we discussed the Rebbe's insights on tznius, dressing modestly. We now continue with installment number five, where we will be sharing a very exclusive letter which the Rebbe wrote in the winter of Teshet Lamed, 1970. This was in honor of the winter convention of the organization of Nshei Bnei Chabad, the Women and Daughters of Chabad. The following is a letter from the Rebbe dated the 7th of Adar, 1 Teshet Lamed, 1970. It is included in the Rebbe's Igres volumes of letters, Volume twenty-six, page three twenty-four. Here we have the letter as it is translated in English. "I have noted on various occasions regarding the necessity of strengthening tznius. However, taking into consideration the present situation on this topic, I find it necessary to come out with a highly urgent appeal. Already from the reward assured in the Torah, in the Talmud, and the, the Zohar, and from the words of our sages of blessed memory, relaying how Jewish women over the course of different generations merited through tznius to exceptional godly blessings, not only for themselves, but also for their husband and children and grandchildren, makes it easier to understand the importance and meaning of tznius. On the other hand, the strictness and admonitions about the said consequences, God forbid, as a result of the lack of tznius, as clearly described in Yeshaya chapter three, et cetera, does not leave a shadow of a doubt about the severity of this matter. There are those people who, as a

02:19 result of their lack of Torah knowledge in general, and on the topic of tznius in particular, assume that the laws, regulations, and customs relating to tznius diminish the Jewish woman from her social privileges, is considered different from others," as it is in the editor's note, "or affect her dignity and the like." The Rebbe continues, "This is a false assessment. The truth is exactly the opposite. Our sacred Torah and our sages of blessed memory have stressed numerous times the dignity and beauty of the Jewish daughter and woman. Many regulations were instituted exclusively to protect and preserve their honor and importance. Related to this, the well-known verse , 'The glory of a princess comes from within,' as it's mentioned in Tehillim, in Psalms 45:14, and it is often quoted. The Torah describes the Jewish woman as glory and princess, but requires this should express itself in a manner of inwardness, tznius. But even from a logical perspective, we see, especially in these last years, what the collapse of tznius has led to. The shameless styles in women's clothing aim to provoke the low-class traits of the animal soul, express the downfall of the modern world as far as the basic foundations of morale- morality are concerned. The rachmana liclan of a large part of today's youth has brought about shocking tragedies in many homes. It is definite that if these young people would have been raised with the foundations of tznius in accordance with our holy Torah, many tragedies could have been avoided, and many young lives

04:37 would not have been destroyed. In light of the above," the Rebbe continues, "I am of the opinion that the matter of tznius needs to be established as one of the main features on the daily agenda in Jewish circles." We will continue with the continuation of the letter in the next installment.