Modesty patrols, and zealous individuals, sometimes use intimidation and even violence in Israel to enforce their own standards in dress and behaviour on others.
In recent weeks, self-styled “modesty patrols” have been accused of breaking into the apartment of a Jerusalem woman and beating her for allegedly consorting with men. They have torched a store that sells MP4 players, fearing devout Jews would use them to download pornography.
“These breaches of purity and modesty endanger our community,” said 38-year-old Elchanan Blau, defending the bearded, black-robed zealots. “If it takes fire to get them to stop, then so be it.”
In the UK one is more aware of similar attempts to enforce modesty, whether through blandishments or threats, by Muslims. But now a Modesty Hotline has been launched in London by a group of strictly Orthodox rabbis. :
Locals can report any slip in standards of modest dress, or poretz geder, a breach in the barriers of decency – for example, inappropriate mingling of the sexes.
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The notice says that calls will be treated confidentially and the committee will “follow up and will investigate and do its best to solve the problem, according to guidance of the rabbis”.
However benignly the ‘investigation’ is conducted – and they have dismissed all talk of ‘modesty patrols’ – it is still (I assume) unwanted interference that its targets are likely to resent.
Finally – here’s one alternative solution to modesty anxieties.
Hat Tip: Ben Six
