There is a catch phrase which for awhile I loved, but now sits unwell with me: \u00a0\u201cmodest is hottest.\u201d \u00a0Well, if it is hottest, doesn\u2019t that sort of defeat the purpose of being modest? Doesn\u2019t\u00a0acknowledging\u00a0it on that level take away some of the inherent\u00a0subtlety\u00a0of modesty, in the grand scheme of things?<\/p>\n
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Tzniut,\u00a0the Hebrew word for\u00a0modesty tends to\u00a0be\u00a0most commonly translated about modesty in reference to clothing. \u00a0I think defining it down on this level does an injustice to tzniut and people who uphold the ideal of modesty. Oh, and by the way,\u00a0tzniut\u00a0is just as much an issue for men as for women, though that often gets ignored!<\/p>\n
Modesty is more than just dressing in a certain way. \u00a0We all know people who purport to dress modestly, but wear clothing so tight, bold, or flashy that it is evident that the last thing on that persons mind when they got dressed was\u00a0tzniut.\u00a0Meanwhile, there are many people who do not meet various communties standards for\u00a0tzniut\u00a0but are clearly more modest than their flashy counterparts. \u00a0So where do we draw the line? Who gets to decide what is or is not\u00a0tzniut?<\/p>\n
Personally, I believe that the most important component of\u00a0tzniut\u00a0is how we carry ourselves, not how we dress ourselves. \u00a0Holding your head high with confidence, without boasting. \u00a0Being a good person and friend, without advertising that you feel you are such. \u00a0Lending a hand when needed, without making a big show about how helpful you are. \u00a0That is the inner-modesty which is so much more valuable in today\u2019s society. \u00a0While how we dress should reflect the person we are on the inside, should a woman\u2019s skirt length be more important that living a modest life?<\/p>\n
I seem to endlessly find myself talking (ok, writing) in circles on this topic as it is so frustrating and mind-flustering to me. \u00a0I\u2019d love to hear your thoughts on the important components of\u00a0tzniut\u00a0and modest being hottest.<\/p>\n