"Tsniut, between Gender, Law, and Ideology" with Dr. Emmanuel Bloch

Dr. Bloch’s research examines the evolution of tsniut (traditional female modesty) in modern Jewish contexts, with particular attention to its formalization within halakhic discourse during the mid-twentieth century. Historically, tsniut functioned as a mimetic practice: an embodied, informal mode of transmission embedded in everyday life. It was not articulated in explicitly legal terms. The shift toward codifying tsniut as a legal category has had far-reaching implications for the Orthodox, and at times non-Orthodox, Jewish worlds - implications that remain significantly understudied.

In this presentation, Dr. Bloch offers a broad overview of this transformation and explore its wider significance in several domains: the role of halakhah in shaping modern Judaism; the construction of gender and gender ideology within contemporary Jewish frameworks; and the strategies through which Orthodox Judaism engage with complex modern issues such as gender dynamics, legal authority, sexuality, and embodiment, all while attempting to preserve an image of seamless social, religious, and political continuity.

Emmanuel Bloch holds a Ph.D. in Jewish Studies from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. His recently completed dissertation, co-supervised by Professors Suzanne Last Stone and Benjamin Brown, explores the transformation of the concept of female modesty (tsniut)—traditionally understood as a mimetic way of life—into a distinct legal category. Prior to his academic career, Bloch practiced as an attorney-at-law in Europe. A native French speaker, he currently teaches courses on Jewish law and modern Jewish philosophy at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS).

*Guests must register by Monday, November 3 to be approved for campus access; unregistered guests will not be permitted on campus.

Supported by the generosity of the Kaye family.

While all IIJS events are free and open to the public, we do encourage a suggested donation of $10.

Host or Publisher The Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies at Columbia University