How can clothing disguise ourselves or reveal our identities?
Beginning with own Torah
Think of your favorite piece of clothing or favorite accessory. Imagine that you are holding it or wearing it. Feel it on your body. Ask yourself:
- Why do you like it?
- How do you feel wearing it?
- Do you have any memories associated with it? Where did you get it?
- Where would you wear it?
- Where wouldn’t you wear it?
Now imagine your least favorite piece of clothing or accessory. This item could be something that you currently own, previously owned, have never owned, or one that you tried on at a store. Imagine that you're holding it or wearing it right now.
- Why don't you like it?
- How do you feel wearing it?
- Do you have any memories associated with it?
- If you had to wear it, where would you go? Where wouldn't you go?
Introduction
Clothing plays a significant role in the Torah's presentation of sex and gender. In the very first chapters of the Torah, clothing already comes to the forefront.
The two of them were naked, the man and
his wife, yet they felt no shame.
When the woman saw that the tree was good for eating and a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable as a source of wisdom, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave some to her husband, and he ate.
Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they perceived that they were naked; and they sewed together fig leaves and made themselves loincloths.
לֹא־יִהְיֶ֤ה כְלִי־גֶ֙בֶר֙ עַל־אִשָּׁ֔ה וְלֹא־יִלְבַּ֥שׁ גֶּ֖בֶר שִׂמְלַ֣ת אִשָּׁ֑ה כִּ֧י תוֹעֲבַ֛ת יי אֱלֹקֶ֖יךָ כׇּל־עֹ֥שֵׂה אֵֽלֶּה׃ {פ}
A woman must not put on man’s apparel, nor shall a man wear woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is abhorrent to the LORD your God.
Questions
To’evah is often translated as “abomination.” The word appears in a few different contexts in the Bible. A few of them are: Hebrews eating with Egyptians (which is called to’evah to the Egyptians); eating nonkosher animals; a man lying with a man as with a woman.
- How do you see the relationship between these various acts, all called to’evah?
- What interest might our ancestors have had in upholding this commandment?
- What interest might some modern Jews have?
- What interest might God have?
This verse appears in the context of a passage that deals with sacred obligations to each other and to God.
- How are outer garments and inner holiness related?
- Do the choices you make about clothing feel sacred to you?
- Does your relationship to other people and/or to God impact the way you choose to clothe yourself?
Commentaries
Shlomo Yitzchaki "Rashi" (~1040-1105 CE, France)
“A woman should not put on the apparel of a man. . .” that she will resemble a man and go out amongst men for the purpose of adultery. “Nor should a man wear the clothing of a woman…” in order to sit amongst the women. As we learned [in Nazir 59a]. “It is completely off-limits behavior…” [Therefore] the Torah is not forbidding it except when garments lead to such off- limits behavior.
Abraham ibn Ezra (~1089-1167 CE, Spain)
לא יהיה כלי גבר. נסמכה בעבור צאת למלחמה כי האשה לא נבראת כי אם להקים הזרע ואם היא תצא עם אנשים למלחמה תבא בדרך לידי זנות וכן לא ילבש גבר והטעם זכר שלא נתמלא זקנו יתערב עם הנשים וינאף הוא והן ואינו יודע וזה יורה כי מנהג ישראל היה וכן ברובי המלכיות להיות מלבוש האנשים איננו כמלבוש הנשים רק הפרש ביניהם וי״א על חוץ לדרך ואין צורך רק השם יתעב מי שישנה מעשה השם:
A WOMAN SHALL NOT WEAR THAT WHICH PERTAINETH UNTO A MAN. This law was stated here because Scripture deals with going out to war. Women were created only to have children. If a woman joins men in going to war she will come to engage in illicit sexual relations on the way. The law that states neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment is similar. The reason for this law is as follows. If a male who does not have a full beard mixes with women, then he and they will have sexual relations without anyone knowing. This law indicates that the custom of Israel was for the garments of men to be unlike the garments of women. There was a definite difference between the garments. This is also the practice in most countries. Some say that our verse speaks of unnatural intercourse. However, there is no need for this interpretation. The fact is that God abominates the one who changes the works of the Lord.
Joseph Karo (1488-1575 CE, Spain)
It is permitted to get married on Purim. Rama: This refers to both the fourteenth and the fifteenth of the month, and one can certainly perform Pidyon Haben too. As to the custom of wearing 'faces' on Purim, and men who wear women's dresses and women wearing men's attire - this is not forbidden, for they have no intention other than pure pleasure. So too the practice of wearing kilayim, rabinically forbidden mixtures of clothes. And although some say it is forbidden, we follow the first opinion. So too, the custom of stealing from each other in a happy way - this does not fall under the prohibition of 'Do not steal', and this is what is done, as long as one does not transgress what is considered acceptable by the elders of the town.
Rabbis Reuben Zellman and Elliot Kukla (Present Day, USA)
Images (left to right) via Pax Ahimsa Gethen; Associated Press
"TransTexts: Cross-Dressing and Drag," Keshet
We can flip mainstream understandings of our verse on their head and understand it as a positive mitzvah: a sacred obligation to present the fullness of our gender as authentically as possible. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to fulfill this mitzvah without endangering their life or livelihood, and the protection of human life always comes first in Judaism, but the Torah wants us be able to be true to ourselves.
- https://www.keshetonline.org/resources/transtexts-cross-dressing-and-drag/#meaning
Questions
- How do the commentators understand this verse?
- Why do you think they reject a literal reading?
- What are each of the commentators concerned about?
- What kind of boundary(s) is each of them trying to protect?
Ending with our own Torah
How should clothing make you feel?
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What kind of dress would reveal the true you?
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How do you make decisions about what to wear?
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Do you ever wear clothes to stand out? Or to not say much at all?
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What clothing makes you feel Jewish?