Trousers and Pants for Women (Subjectivity and Objectivity in Halacha Part 3)

Delivered at the OU Israel Center, 26 Iyar 5783 - May 17, 2023

Sponsored In memory of Chaim Moshe ben David (Henry M Bochner) whose yahrzeit is 20 Iyar.

Rabbi Manning's series for 2023 has been sponsored

לעילוי נשמת ברנה בת בנדית וזליג בן קלמן

• In the previous shiur we opened a conversation about the Torah prohibition of Beged Ish. We saw that, according to all opinions, there is an element of subjectivity in this mitzva in defining what is considered ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’.
• We also saw that there are two main approaches
• (i) an entirely subjective approach whereby the society of the time defines what is considered ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’; and
• (ii) and partially objective approach in which some actions or clothing are intrinsically defined as belonging to a specific gender and therefore prohibited for the other gender, even though there may be other activities or clothing which will depend on the subjective approach of that society.
• In this shiur we will look at the complex issue of trousers and pants for women - from the perspective of beged ish and beyond