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.




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11 comments:

  1. RAMFebruary 05, 2014 3:56 PM

    As always, consult with your own Rav!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yFebruary 05, 2014 4:56 PM

      Do you really think that RCZM, or ANY rav for that matter, would say any different?

      Delete
    2. Rafi G.February 05, 2014 7:37 PM

      not everything needs to be asked

      Delete
  2. Yitz WaxmanFebruary 05, 2014 4:41 PM

    What does "dressed properly" look like for a marathon?

    ReplyDelete
  3. JoshFebruary 05, 2014 11:27 PM

    Would 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?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. why?February 06, 2014 9:06 AM

      how come it's always the "chareidi" commenters who always are so detailed about the bikini tops and speedo shorts?

      Delete
    2. Rafi G.February 06, 2014 9:50 AM

      how do you know commenter Josh is chareidi?

      Delete
  4. MarkFebruary 06, 2014 12:48 AM

    I'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.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mordechai Y. ScherFebruary 06, 2014 2:13 AM

      Normative halacha does not require that we avoid going about normal business. Running a marathon is entirely optional. The difference is pretty simple.

      Delete
  5. MarkFebruary 06, 2014 2:54 AM

    Okay. 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.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousFebruary 06, 2014 11:37 AM

    Sounds like as a woman, I am allowed to participate. Yay!

    ReplyDelete