Bathing Modestly at a Mixed Beach
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Question
Can a woman go to a mixed beach in modest swimwear? Please provide sources. Thank you in advance.
Answer
Shalom Rav
The presence of men and women together in a bathing place, even if the woman is dressed modestly, is a serious breach of modesty, and there is no permission for this.
Source
In the Gemara (Gittin 90), it is stated that it is a bad trait of a man who sees his wife 'bathing in a place where people bathe'. And it is said about her, 'because he found something indecent in her and sent her away from his house', and it is a commandment from the Torah to divorce her.
Rashi explains there that it refers to a woman who enters to bathe in a place where men had previously bathed and are dressing, and she enters the bathhouse in their sight. Even if she is not seen when she bathes at all, the very entry into a bathing place where men are present is 'indecency'.
This Gemara is mentioned in the writings of many contemporary halachic authorities [Shut Shevet Levi (vol. 3, siman 185), Shut Igrot Moshe (part Even HaEzer, siman 56), Shut Ba'er Moshe (vol. 4, siman 147), Taharat Yom Tov (vol. 8, page 164 and onwards), Shut Yechave Da'at (vol. 5, siman 63)].