What Took So Long?
| August 23, 2017C lothing matters. It plays a crucially symbolic role in Tanach. Yaakov dons the clothing of Eisav and fools Yitzchak (Bereishis 27:15). The Kohein must wear special clothing — the Bigdei Kehunah — when he conducts the Temple service. The four corners of a garment require tzitzis. Dovid cuts the cloak of Shaul Hamelech (I Shmuel 24:4) and Shaul Hamelech tears the garment of the prophet Shmuel (ibid. 15:27). The laws of shatnez deal with mixtures of linen and wool in clothing. Rabi Yochanan in Bava Kama 91b declares “My clothes are my dignifiers.”
It is not only in Tanach that clothes are pivotal. There is an entire body of halachah dealing with tzniyus (modesty) in dress. But were we aware that tzniyus is meta-halachic and can lead to success in the workplace?
Such is the theme of a new article in the Forward — which once again demonstrates that the directives of halachah far from being outmoded are far ahead of the times. Kashrus for example has been shown to be a major factor in physical well-being. The mitzvah of bris milah circumcision is known to have major health benefits. And cardiologists recently suggested that a brief midday break from one’s work just to sit quietly and meditate is very heart-healthy. (Jews call that Minchah…)
Now comes along further research to indicate that one of the least understood Torah practices that of tzniyus in dress happens to be an essential ingredient of success in the office.
I treated the issue of modesty several months ago featuring the New York Times Fashion section which referred to the stylish aspects of the new “covered look” — which is the new style designed to make the wearer more attractive. But a July article in the Forward goes a step beyond this. Not only is modesty back in vogue it can also make one more successful. ln a piece titled “Jewish Women Should Dress Modestly to Succeed at Work ” the writer cites numerous studies that indicate that success at work is directly related to how a woman dresses: the less modestly she dresses the less her success; the more modestly the greater her success. The writer addresses women’s preoccupation with their appearance obsessively concerned about how the opposite gender perceives them. She points out that when this obsession is controlled there follows richer inner growth self-confidence and self-esteem.
She became aware of this inner power when she became an observant Jewess and learned about the concept of tzniyus — modesty not only in clothing but also in speech and behavior. Although she continued to dress tastefully and in style she became less concerned about how attractive she might look to others and more focused on who she really is. Despite the clamor of the clothing ads she realized that she is who she is and not what she is wearing.
Women she writes frequently adopt the wrong sartorial strategy one that makes the wearer an object and a thing rather than an individual who commands respect and esteem. Further a remarkable Northwestern University study showed that clothing affects one’s own cognition. Those who wore a physician’s white coat displayed sharper focus and concentration than when they wore gym clothes. As the New York Times put it “Clothes invade the body and brain putting the wearer into a different psychological state.”
Women and men might well be driven by different internal drives. What psychologists call the “peacock syndrome” — the need to display before others — is more prevalent among women than among men. Tens of thousands of chareidi men wear identical black suits white shirts black hats. But their own wives by and large would hardly be content in identical black dresses and black head coverings. Which is perhaps why the concept of tzniyus seems directed at women although it applies to men as well.
The article concludes that clothing can reveal character intellect and personality; can inspire the wearer to be inwardly focused; and can enhance self-esteem as well as engender the esteem of others. “Clothes make the man ” said Shakespeare meaning that your clothing not only affects how others appraise you; more importantly it affects how you think how you behave. and what you are.
Believing Jews do not need the validation of the laboratory. Nevertheless it is intriguing to observe how gradually and inexorably the world seems to be catching up to the wisdom of Judaism. Note the comment of the famous astrophysicist Robert Jastrow: At the end of days when mankind finally struggles up to the summit of wisdom they will find a band of rabbis already sitting there and the rabbis will look up from their holy books and will ask “Whatever took you long?” (Originally featured in Mishpacha Issue 674)
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