Where’s the Line Between Tznius (Modest) and Sexy?
In this post, Jew in the City responds to questions about dressing modestly in a positive way. Coming from a secular background, I see people make judgments about orthodox Jews all the time, sometimes even just based on their appearance. While I don’t think every woman should dress so modest that they’re Tznius, I do think that modesty could be practiced a little better among young adolescent women. Or a lot better. Portraying modesty in a way that is approachable and still attractive can make it more connective. Clothes are meant to cover, not expose. That being said, dressing in a modest way can take away the distraction in the way of discovering who that person is on the inside.
Reading Talia Levin’s story is comical, true, and hits home. One night I was walking down the boardwalk on the beach with some friends when one of the shopkeepers asked me if I was Jewish. I asked him why he was asking that and without words, he touched the bridge of his nose. I was stunned. Yes, maybe I had a big Jewish nose, but are you serious? Sometimes I am amazed by the anti-Semitism that still exists, being that I’m surrounded by Jews a lot of the time. Regardless, I certainly am proud of my own Jew-fro, even if it does frizz up on those rainier days.
Stuff Jewish Girls Like focused her most recent post on a DIY (do it yourself) project that any J-Girl could tackle on a weekend. My friends and I are looking for fun new projects all the time. A couple of them are becoming really talented jewelry makers actually. I just question why the title of the blog itself is ‘Stuff Jewish Girls Like’. Non-Jews like jewelry too, no?
Jewish Women’s Archive: Jewesses with Attitude
This blog is one any young Jew should keep bookmarked. It’s part of a national nonprofit whose mission is to uncover, chronicle, and transmit the rich legacy of North American Jewish women and their contributions to the world. Amen to that. This week, one blogger posted about Gilda Radner and the legacy she left. She would have been 66 this week, but spent the many years she was here devoted to raising awareness about hereditary cancers. Ashkenazi women are more likely to develop breast cancer than others, at a rate of ten to 40 percent. Honoring Gilda Radner by getting the word out about breast cancer and its daunting contraction rate is definitely a message worthy of a retweet.
If you’re on Twitter these days, you’ve probably seen the hashtag, #insertstereotypehere followed by problems. Whether it’s #firstworldproblems, or #citygirlproblems, each one is meant to poke fun at some of the ridiculous things people say in those lifestyles. They’re stereotypical yes, but have taken over the Twitterverse. One of my personal favorites is Jewish Boy Problems. If you’re unfamiliar with this character, you can get a better idea from the bio listed: “I have brown eyes and hair. My legs are uncomfortably hairy. My dream is to crack 5’8. I think my Dad works in finance. My Mom loves to spend his money.” Growing up in a Jewish town in northern New Jersey, this boy is one I encountered frequently. The Twitter handle has turned into a blog, in which sentences or phrases are posted that typical ‘Long Island-style’ Jewish boys might say. Some gems from this week:
- #overheard at my office: “Which Melissa Schwartz are you talking about? The one I know went to Mich, not UPenn.”
- According to my father, no food expires. Not even produce.#JewishBoyProblems
- “My grandparents are letting me stay in their Upper East Side apartment while they’re in Boca for the season.” #Overheard
Happy Stalking!
