Community Magazine September 2003

14 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE Dear Community Magazine, I just wanted to thank you for your arti- cle in the April 2003 edition of the Community Magazine. I work in Kosher food, and have driven through Bentonville, Arkansas while visiting food producing factories. I plan to stop by the new Beit Midrash on my next trip to Northwest Arkansas. I have also shared this article with some Orthodox friends who live in Tulsa, Oklahama. as well as Little Rock, Arkansas. Once again, thank you very much for your wonderful magazine. Y OSEPH F LORANS S T . L OUIS , M ISSOURI Dear Community Magazine, It was refreshing to read Rabbi Mansour’s well written article on Modesty, that emphasized a modest attitude and manner as well as dress. Several of your recent editorial letters that referred to tzni- ut and girls “who do not realize the many sins they are causing Jewish men to com- mit”, failed to mention that Jewish men, like all men and women, possess the power to exercise self-control. It is a terrible thing to tell girls that they are responsible for causing others to sin. Ladies might have more restrictions on their presentations of themselves, but each person is responsible for his or her self, and should not look to place the blame on others for their own actions or thoughts. We should be instilling confidence in our children, rather than telling them that they are to blame for the actions or thoughts of other people. AA DES Dear Editor, I thought it ironic that Rabbi Monsour’s article on Tzniut was followed by a full page advertisement stating, “It’s not who you know, it’s how you look.” Sincerely, E RIC N ORMAN Dear Rabbi Mansour, I found your article “Modesty Misunderstood” enlightening as well as practical. In fact I made copies to share with the women in my study group and friends. Thank you for giving me a better under- standing of how modesty affects all aspects of our life—not just dress. Since a woman’s mission is Tzniut then that is the key to our spiritual elevation which in turn is our unique contribution to Tikun Olam. Y OCHEVED A RON Dear Community Magazine, I am so happy that the observant Sephardic Community now has a maga- zine to call our own. I very much liked Rabbi Mansour’s article on modesty. Then I turned to the fashion section on page 58 and saw a pair of shoes featured that are really more appropriate for the boudoir than for street wear (“Manolo Blahnik Embroidered Silk Shantung Mules”). Perhaps…the staff of the magazine should evaluate the items displayed in your fash- ion section before it goes to print. After all, it doesn’t make sense to urge the commu- nity to keep higher levels of Tzniut and then at the same time encourage clothing that is provocative. A L ADY C ONCERNED W ITH T ZNIUT Dear Editor, I just finished reading Rabbi Mansour’s article on modest dress titled “Modesty Misunderstood”. What a well written arti- cle detailing not only how one should dress but how they should act. It’s for men and women, and as a community the article can enlighten us that our conduct towards oth- ers also ties into that realm. Your magazine was great this month as always. The values you teach are of holy nature. M RS . B s xc L E T T E R S SEND YOUR LETTERS TO: Mail: Community Magazine 1616 Ocean Pkwy Brooklyn, NY 11223 Fax: 718-504-4246 email: letters@communitym.com Letters submitted become the property of Community Magazine and will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. Letters may be edited and revised for style grammar and spelling before publication.