Halachot and Customs
Is There a Halachic Problem with Wearing a Nose Ring?
Question
I have several questions:
a. Is there any halachic problem with wearing a nose ring or with the number of holes in the ears?
b. Is a red garment simply forbidden...?
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Answer
Shalom and blessings,
It is forbidden for a woman or girl to dress in clothes that attract attention and cause others to look at them. Wearing a nose ring was customary in biblical times and there is no explicit prohibition against it. However, there is a prohibition against drawing attention in a conspicuous manner, through unnatural beauty, and by this definition a nose ring on the nose is included according to contemporary societal customs.
The same applies to an additional hole in the ear in most communities. Regarding red garments, the Shech brings in the name of the Maharich that "the tradition is to be stringent about wearing red for our people." There are two reasons for this: either because it was formerly the custom of the gentiles to wear red garments and it is forbidden to imitate gentile customs, or for reasons of modesty, since the color red is naturally attention-grabbing. Some say that today only the second reason remains, and therefore it is permitted to wear red garments indoors.
Thank you very much for the compliments - Happy Chanukah - Menashe Israel
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