Tznius is an inherent and integral part of being a woman. Our Sages say, הקב”×” ×‘×¨× ×ת ×”×שה מן הצלע ×ž×ž×§×•× ×¦× ×•×¢ כדי שתהיה ×¦× ×•×¢×” -” Hashem created woman from an internal rib in order implant the quality of tznius (being internal and modest) in her.” [1. Midrash Tanchuma, Vayeishev 6] Similarly, our Sages say that at the time of creation Hashem instructed every limb of the woman to be modest. [2. Bereishis Rabba 18:3] In the case of the nations of the world, this inherent tendency has been severely suppressed if not overturned by the ongoing pursuit of pleasures which relate more to immodesty than to modesty. However, in Jewish women, the qualities of tznius have certainly not been suppressed, and are latent. It should be a source of great encouragement for a Jewish woman to know that these qualities are there, and need only surface once again.
An insight into how innate and native tznius is to the very being of a woman can be learned from the following teaching of our Sages. In the book of Kings we learn that the Queen of Sheba heard of the incredible wisdom of King Solomon and decided to go and see for herself if he really was so brilliant. She tested him by asking him riddles. [3. Kings 1:10:1] In the midrash [4. Shochar Tov, Mishlei 1] one of the riddles is recorded as follows: The queen brought male and female children before King Solomon. They were all dressed the same, were all the same height and all had the same facial appearance. She asked King Solomon to tell her which of the children were male and which were female.
King Solomon instructed a servant to place a bowl of nuts and roasted kernels before the children and allow them to help themselves to a handsome helping. All the males lifted the corner of their robe forming a type of of large pocket which they filled with nuts. The females, however, did not do so, because of their innate feeling for modesty, as lifting the corner of their robe would reveal part of their leg. Instead, they took out a kerchief [which holds less than the pocket made from a corner of the robe] and filled it with nuts. In this way King Solomon could tell exactly who was male and who was female without erring. The Queen of Sheba was greatly impressed.
It is apparent from the story that not a single girl lifted the corner of her robe to hold the nuts. This proves that modesty and the need to be covered is very deep and absolute. Tznius is engraved in the very character of a woman and has natural place in her nature. The Jewish woman, therefore, need not acquire tznius. She should just keep away from negative influences and deep seated feeling for modesty and tznius will emerge. This feeling can then be positively developed into a greater and greater sensitivity.
Modesty-An Adornment for Life: Rabbi Pesach Eliyahu Falk, © Feldheim Publishers.
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How uplifting!
Thank you Rabbi.