Photo from collive.com
Operation Protective Edge is being fought on two fronts – we have the IDF on the battlefield and the talmidei chachamim in the beis medrash. Now we have a third battalion coming in to reinforce Israel’s defense – the Pantyhose Warriors of Crown Heights. This initiative is called Project Eden.
“PROJECT EDEN has a three-pronged effect: Firstly, it involves KIDS, Tinokos Shel Bais Rabban, our guarantors whom we turn to in times of trouble (think: 22 thousand children in the times of Mordechai and Esther). It’s all about ACHDUS – One nation, united, wherever we may be, giving of ourselves to help Israel. Thirdly, it’s about TZNIUS- our sure-fire protection.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS:
Starting Sunday, 22 Tammuz (July 20) until Monday, 8 Av (August 4), Every girl who comes to day camp dressed in Tznius attire (i.e. clothing which keep necklines, elbows, knees and feet covered at all times) will receive an EDEN card. Eight such cards entitle a girl to a free ice cream at Sweet Expressions or the Ice Cream truck. All cards will be entered into a raffle for a $100 gift certificate at Sweet Expressions or Hamafitz Judaica.”
What I find especially cruel is that girls aren’t even allowed to eat ice cream in public anymore (or maybe this Lakewood phenomenon hasn’t hit Crown Heights yet?)!
To me this is another example of random cause and effect that some people love to attribute to tznius observance or lack thereof. For example, this flyer exhorts people to pray that manufacturers of pritzus clothing change their styles to tzniusdig designs. Apparently pritzus clothing causes the flu, cancer, and off the derech children.
Photo from Tznius Craziness
Another flyer tells us that dressing modestly protects us from illness and pain. One poor woman found this out the hard way when she developed a malignant tumor from wearing a partially covered sheitel (a fall?). Fortunately, she took the advice of her rav and began wearing a sheitel that fully covered her hair and the tumor went away.
Photo from Tznius Craziness
Lest we think that only tznius dress is the focus and not behavior, we have this flyer which tells women that if they refrain from talking on their cell phones in public, their sacrifice will merit a refuah for a beloved rabbi.
Photo from Tznius Craziness
Judging from the comments on the article, people are thrilled with this new campaign involving dressing girls more modestly. The only complaint one person had is that the little girl on the flyer isn’t so tzniusdige with her long loose hair. Also, this effort shouldn’t be reserved only for the children; mothers should embark on a similar campaign.
I have no problems with teaching girls about tznius, but to burden them with the concept that by dressing modestly they can alter the course of a volatile and deadly war? That borders on cruelty. If Israel decides to send ground troops into Gaza and soldiers and civilians are injured or worse, God forbid, it won’t be because little Malky’s socks were too short or Shira’s elbows poked out from under her sleeves as she hung from the monkey bars.
As parents it’s our responsibility to teach our girls about modesty, self-respect, and respect for others. However, it’s also our job to protect them from psychological damage. Imagine a poor girl who has family in Israel, and who may have lost a relative to terrorism. What level of responsibility will she feel if it’s been drilled into her head that her clothing choices can affect the outcome of a war, or worse, war casualties?
