Nishmat's Women’s Health and HalachaIn memory of Chaya Mirel bat R' Avraham

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Short sleeves

18 November, 2015
Question:

Rabbi Henkin, in Bnei Banim and in Contemporary Tzniut gives a Limud Zechut for short sleeves and says that Dat Yehudit only really obligates women to keep their armpits covered. Does that mean that it would be completely acceptable in today's modern world to wear a short sleeved shirt (obviously one that is not too loose, so as to provide of a view of the body)? Thank you.


Answer:

Rav Henkin writes in Understanding Tzniut (Urim Publications, 2008), that short sleeves within a tefach of the elbow would be fully permitted in practice, but that sleeves to the elbow are recommended.  On the most lenient reading, tefach here would refer to 8 to 10.4 cm above the elbow.

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