Feb 5, 2014
Interesting Psak: Prohibited to participate in Marathon Tel Aviv and Triathlons
Someone asked Rav Yaakov Ariel, Chief Rabbi of Ramat Gan, if it is permissible to participate in the Tel Aviv Marathon that is fast approaching, considering it is a mixed-gender race. He also asked the same question about participating in Triathlons, events that include running, biking and swimming, that are mixed-gender races.
Rav Ariel's answer was simply, if people were dressed properly, it would be allowed. However, unfortunately, people are not dressed properly.
source: Yeshiva and NRG
uh oh. Good thing I am not participating in Marathon Tel Aviv...
Actually, this would apply not just to the Tel Aviv Marathon, but to all such marathons and sporting events. I know people who run a lot, but don't run marathons or other races only because of the way people (of the opposite gender) are dressed..
The truth is that this also applies to most of life - walking down the street, taking a bus, going to work, gooing to a mall, a supermarket - people are dressed immodestly everywhere. Granted, in sports clothes it is a lot of that concentrated into one place..
I find it interesting he did not employ the issue of it being a mixed-gender event, and only one of immodest dress.
Rav Ariel's answer was simply, if people were dressed properly, it would be allowed. However, unfortunately, people are not dressed properly.
source: Yeshiva and NRG
uh oh. Good thing I am not participating in Marathon Tel Aviv...
Actually, this would apply not just to the Tel Aviv Marathon, but to all such marathons and sporting events. I know people who run a lot, but don't run marathons or other races only because of the way people (of the opposite gender) are dressed..
The truth is that this also applies to most of life - walking down the street, taking a bus, going to work, gooing to a mall, a supermarket - people are dressed immodestly everywhere. Granted, in sports clothes it is a lot of that concentrated into one place..
I find it interesting he did not employ the issue of it being a mixed-gender event, and only one of immodest dress.
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As always, consult with your own Rav!
ReplyDeleteDo you really think that RCZM, or ANY rav for that matter, would say any different?
Deletenot everything needs to be asked
DeleteWhat does "dressed properly" look like for a marathon?
ReplyDeleteWould seem like a no-brainer to me. If it was just guys, sure why not? But the women show up in bikini tops and speedo shorts. What rav would give a heter to participate?
ReplyDeletehow come it's always the "chareidi" commenters who always are so detailed about the bikini tops and speedo shorts?
Deletehow do you know commenter Josh is chareidi?
DeleteI'm not sure what the marathon has to do with his psak. If the issue is the way women are dressed, then the psak should be that entering Tel Aviv is forbidden. And anything within a few blocks of the beach is doubly forbidden.
ReplyDeleteNormative halacha does not require that we avoid going about normal business. Running a marathon is entirely optional. The difference is pretty simple.
DeleteOkay. How about going to a museum in Tel Aviv? Going to the beach (separate) in Tel Aviv? Going to a show or a tekes in Tel Aviv? My point is that the marathon has nothing to do with it, the psak would apply to all optional events.
ReplyDeleteSounds like as a woman, I am allowed to participate. Yay!
ReplyDelete