You’re walking outside. It’s 30 degrees Celsius. The sun is burning on your face… Meanwhile, everyone else seems to be in a tank top and shorts. You stick out like a sore thumb, sweating in your tights, your blouse buttoned up to the very last button.
Yep. That’s what summer is like for me, and probably for many others, too. You’re not alone.
Summer brings a lot of challenges with it. It’s hard and I wonder whether I will ever get used to the warmth of dressing modestly. I think the most annoying thing that I deal with is that people comment on the things that I wear during summer, which are genuine questions for them. Whether it’s the top button that I close or the layers of clothing I wear. I get it, it’s an odd sight in 30°C. It’s not easy navigating such questions, I want to answer them, but how? When I tell them it’s halochoh will they understand or view me as oppressed? It’s something that’s usually hard to grasp for outsiders and that’s okay as long as they come from a place of respect. And well at the end of the day we’re here to serve Hashem first and foremost, whatever other people might think, just let them think!
Does it really matter?
Sometimes you might start questioning your own sanity. Why am I dressing the way I dress? Does it really matter if I take my tights off? Does it really matter if I just open the top button of my blouse? It’s good to question yourself once in a while though. When you ask yourself, you will strengthen yourself when you do your research.
Why is it that we do what we do? For that we have to go back and read. Get a book on the laws of modesty and read it once in a while. Study it once per week or whatever you like. It will help you stay strong and grounded.
Let me tell you one thing: many years ago, when I still wore shorts, I was still hot in the summertime. For sure, it was more cooling, but I could still sweat in the burning hot summer, which made little difference, to be honest. At least I won’t get burned so badly and can save up on the sunscreen now 😉
But to get back on the question… Does it really matter, all these body parts covered up, the top button closed, long skirt, tights? In short, yes, it does, it really does. Every mitzvoh matters! We have to stand strong in our ways, whether that be modesty or other mitzvos. We fall and get up again, we aren’t angels, of course, we struggle and the more so during summertime. If we take off our tights and roll our sleeves up a little more then what will happen next?
The Yezter hora works like that; what difference does a centimeter of exposure make? And before you know it your sleeves are way past your elbow.
When we look at halocho we are reminded once again of the importance of covering up the bare minimum like our collar bones, knees and elbows. Of course, there’s much more at play but a journey towards modesty starts with the bare minimum and we build up from that. I won’t go over the halochos right now but just know that what you’re doing, what you’re wearing and covering up is of much importance and Hashem sees your every effort.
We don’t need to show off
Whilst the world is busy showing off their body, we don’t have to. We don’t owe anyone our beauty. We don’t owe anyone our body. It’s private. We don’t need to create “the perfect summer body” to show off at the beach. We don’t need to have the perfect tan. We have more important things to keep ourselves busy with. I’m not saying, don’t take care of your body, but we don’t need to perfect our body for anyone else but ourselves, our own health and our (future) husband. And that alone creates a more peaceful mind.
All these beauty standards that keep changing every so often are all but a fleeting moment, not something that lasts. But our mitzvos! Oh our mitzvos are everlasting! When we walk outside in burning hot weather whilst neatly covered up, it’s an everlasting mitzvoh that’s precious in Hashem’s eyes!
Stay strong, take care, till the next!
If you want to reach out, you can find my e-mail in the “about-me” section. 🙂
Aydelkeit 
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