TTfT 1202. The Talmud has been dealing with cases of false piety. For example, a person makes it look like he is very pious and saintly, but really something else is going on. We gave examples of this in the last session. Here the Talmud digresses and discusses an authentic expression of piety.

We can learn “Fear of Sin” from a maiden:

For Rabbi Yochanan overheard a maiden who fell to the ground in prayer and said, “Master of the universe, You created heaven and hell, you created the opportunity for people to be righteous or wicked. May it be Your will that mankind shall not stumble because of me.”

We can assume that this maiden was an attractive person and she was worried that simply her looks and appearance would cause men to go in the wrong direction.

The Ben Yehoyada points out that the tremendous breakthrough of this girl’s prayer is that for her “Fear of Sin” was not just that she shouldn’t sin, but that others shouldn’t sin because of her.

This desire that she not cause people to be distracted from their righteous mission in life opens up the general topic of Tzniyus, which describes the way a person should conduct themselves in dress, behavior and attitude.

Typically the word Tzniyus is translated as modesty. The translations based on rav S. R. Hirsch add on the words humble and discreet. In short, the concept of Tzniyus is that the person has a quality of goodness or attractiveness, but they are not showy about it, and they do not flaunt it. This is true if the quality is wisdom or talent, and it is also true if the quality is physical attractiveness.

The Medrash says that when Hashem created first woman, He created her to be very attractive for her husband, but He declared upon every limb, “You shall personify Tzniyus.” That is to say, “You shall be discreet and modest with the attractiveness which I endow you.”

Indeed we find that when a person observes Tzniyus they are able to conduct themselves in a way of nobility, and are able to influence those around them to focus on the deep qualities of inner beauty with which we have been endowed.