Clothing & Appearance

Themes and Theology of the Jewish Body. The Jewish Body. Jewish Body Traditions.

Jewish law mandates a healthful lifestyle.

If it does not serve a legitimate medical purpose, cosmetic surgery is frowned upon by the Jewish legal tradition.

Judaism and Adorning the Body. The Jewish Body. Jewish Body Teaching, Laws, and Traditions.

Judaism recognizes the primacy of an inner beauty, but we are nonetheless called upon to care for our bodies and not discouraged from tending to our appearance.

Some interpretations of the meaning of tefillin have faded, and others have been invented to take their place.

Evidence from Qumran shows that the medieval debate about the order of biblical passages in tefillin has ancient roots.  

The details of this precept, using powerful symbols of allegiance to divine law and of membership in the Jewish religious community, have been subject to many interpretations.