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In fact, we see that cultures which admire women primarily for their physical characteristics, ultimately degrade them and take advantage of them.
In view of this dangerous possibility -- coupled with a strong tendency among males to notice the physical and external and be stimulated visually -- women would do well to de-emphasize their bodies in order to emphasize that which is their real beauty: their inner strengths, their souls.
All of the honor of the daughter of the King is within. (Tehillim/Psalms 45:14)
Of course, none of this implies that women shouldn't look beautiful.
In fact once the physicality is not distracting, and the internal holiness is realized, it is a mitzvah to glorify the vessel for holiness, that representation of spirituality.
Just as the Tabernacle was stunningly attractive, and a Torah scholar is commanded to accord his physical appearance major priority, so too a woman, an obvious vessel for a rich and potent inner essence, is further enhanced by a beautiful exterior. One which is infused with spiritual content. Not an empty shell.
Several of the ideas in this article were made by  Rabbi Zev Leff in his lecture "The Concept of Modesty."
www.aish.com.
As social beings, we are swayed to "look good", thus adopting outward behaviors and inward attitudes which may not represent who we really are. Tzniut calls for us to focus inwardly to our relationship with G-d and thus be more independent of norms, even when following our own call results in standing out from the crowd.
Modesty in English is described as a disinclination to call attention to oneself, or, free from showiness or pretension, or, conventional in various qualities, thus not standing out, or, be moderate in estimating one's own talents, abilities or value.(2) Its definition focuses primarily on what qualities one does NOT have.
Of course as we delve into the research on Tzniut, the Hebrew concept often translated as modesty, we find a richer, more diverse discussion focusing on spirituality. Tzniut is defined in the Hebrew with powerful positive attributes, as we shall see.
The source for Tzniut in Torah is repeatedly noted in the literature from two sources. The first is from Deuteronomy (Devarim 23:15), speaking of male behavior in military camps. Soldiers are commanded to leave the camp and cleanse themselves if they experience nocturnal emission. Every good camp shall also have a shovel in addition to weapons, which shall be placed outside the camp. Any soldier sitting outside the camp for various reasons shall use the shovel to dig, so that excrement may easily be covered up. Why? "For Hashem, your G-d, walks in the midst of your camp to rescue you… so your camp shall be holy, so that He will not see a shameful thing among you and turn away from behind you." From this, we must have derived the need for inspections, and the expression, "Clean up your act!!" It's curious what doesn't change over time…..
The second source for Tzniut is from Numbers (Bamidbar 15:39) at the end of the commandment to make tzitzis on the corner of our garments, "that you may see it and remember all the commandments of Hashem and perform them; and not explore after your heart and after your eyes after which you stray." Remember that each of us is a soul, which is G-d given and pure. It is the self-maintenance of our purity, reaching outside of ourselves, that enables a spiritual life. It is interesting to be aware that it is our hearts and our eyes which can lead us away from purity and thus away from spiritual connection with G-d. It is thus a mitzvah to wear tzitzit so that our eyes can see and remember other mitzvot, to aid us in steering away daily, hourly, from our earthly motivations toward a greater connection with others and with the One.
Tzniut (Modesty) is part of a triumvirate of daily Jewish life, which also includes Kedushah (holiness), and Taharah (purity). If we retain these three qualities in our daily lives, our reward is significant, from a passage of Torah with which you are probably familiar: "They shall make a Sanctuary for Me- so that I may dwell among them…" (Exodus/Shemot 25:8) "For Kedushah, Taharah, and Tzniut are the foundations of the indwelling of the Sanctuary and the Shechinah among Jews in general, and within every Jew, man and woman, in particular.[emphasis added]"(3)
The question then arises, particularly for women, why does Judaism not advocate going all the way with the covering of the body, as is done in certain Moslem or Hindi sects, with total face and body coverings? What's different about the face and hands, which are appropriate for public viewing in a Tzniut way of life? "The face is unique…. And science has yet to discover two people with identical fingerprints. It isn't easy to identify people by their arms or legs, but our hands and our faces are in a class by themselves, impossible to confuse with those of any other human being….. What Jewish law permits a woman to display are precisely those parts of her that convey her essence - her intellect, her emotions, her individuality. She is forbidden to show that which would present her as anything less…Tzniut, modesty, is literally G-d's gift to womanhood. It tells us, don't sell yourself short. You are more than the body that houses you. Your uniqueness shines forth from a physical presence that radiates from beyond physicality….."(4)
"Judaism strikes a balance by acknowledging the need for both physical and nonphysical self-expression. Sensuality is channeled into the intimate aspects of one's married life, where it is affirmed and encouraged as a means of expressing one's deepest self to the other. It is simultaneously held back from the public eye, where it will inevitably create distortion and superficiality in how one is perceived. Dress such as spaghetti strap tank tops, short skirts and low necklines encourage the casual observer to focus on the body and not on the mind or the soul of the woman so attired. Publicly projecting oneself in such a way has the severe spiritual consequence of banishing God's Presence. Modest dress, on the other hand, not only prevents men from viewing women as objects, but, more importantly, allows women themselves to internalize a spiritual self-image….This is healthy. A woman's sense of self and power should not come from the number of heads she can turn, but rather from the minds and hearts she can turn."(5)
"The uniform that the Torah requires of women is dignity. That is nonnegotiable. While all other aspects of self-statement can be determined by individual taste, human dignity remains the focus of the dress code in Judaism. By observing the laws of modesty, a woman is making the most important statement an individual can make: that she is a total person, not just a body. Secular society too often seeks to express only physicality and diminishes the person in the process."(6)
We should also be aware that not only does the way we dress, act, and talk present an outer view of who we are more inwardly, but that people respond to us in ways in which we present ourselves, thus feeding back to us what we are presenting. People in effect are a mirror of who we present, and who we present can be affected by our concerns for or defiance of others' opinions. You can quickly see how circular this can get, and how our focus on presentation or concern with others' opinions, or the feedback we get from others, all plays into our self-image when in fact, to live a spiritual life, we should step off this merry-go-round altogether to focus on the quality of our inner life, our relationship with G-d, and our generosity and kindness to others.
"Tzniut is far more than a dress code. A person's attitude towards Tzniut reflects directly on his entire outlook, attitude, and approach to life. Is he interested in externals and what others think of him; or is he striving on an internal level, wondering what G-d thinks of him? If a person's main concern is to do what's right in G-d's eyes, he won't look at life as though it's one big fashion show, and he won't be crushed if he's not listed as one of People Magazine's 'ten best dressed.' …The main thing is to keep in mind the verse '...what is it that Hashem asks of you, but to act justly, love kindness and to walk with Tzniut with Hashem your G-d.'"(7)
The next topic upon which I will be teaching is this: The great Mitvah of hair-covering. The hair-covering is one of the most cherished pieces of clothing a woman possesses. With it she fulfills a great Mitzvah Min HaTorah (a Biblical mandated commandment) and it bestows on her many exceptional side benefits that emanate from fulfilling a mitzvah that is founded on tzniut (modesty), the most important characteristic of the Bat Yisrael (Daughter of Israel)
Lets move on .WHO covers their hair, and why?
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