Torah and Prayer in the Presence of Immodesty
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Question
What is the halachic ruling when traveling on a bus or the like, when there are women around who are not dressed modestly:
a. Married women with their heads uncovered.
b. I do not know whether they are married, and their heads are uncovered.
c. Legs, arms, or the neckline are exposed.
d. Only the feet are exposed.
What is the ruling in each of these cases regarding:
1. Studying Torah and praying out loud.
2. Thinking about words of Torah and prayer in one’s mind.
And what is the ruling if the women are not on the bus but in the street, and I see them from inside the bus?
a. Married women with their heads uncovered.
b. I do not know whether they are married, and their heads are uncovered.
c. Legs, arms, or the neckline are exposed.
d. Only the feet are exposed.
What is the ruling in each of these cases regarding:
1. Studying Torah and praying out loud.
2. Thinking about words of Torah and prayer in one’s mind.
And what is the ruling if the women are not on the bus but in the street, and I see them from inside the bus?
Answer
Shalom and blessings.
In all the aforementioned cases, one should turn to another side, and then it is permitted to engage in Torah and prayer.
If it is impossible to actually turn to another side, it is sufficient to close one’s eyes, since this is considered a situation of pressing necessity.
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