„(Musar Avicha) The trait of modesty is a difficult trait; seemingly…”
„(Musar Avicha) The trait of modesty is a difficult trait; seemingly it distances peace between one person and another by severing between women and men. Rav Kook does not ignore this fact. Modesty causes us the loss of a connection that could be good, but along with this good, very great harm of licentiousness could arise, and therefore we must refrain from bonds of friendship between a man and a woman, even though...”
...there is proper conduct in it.
Students asked me whether today it is forbidden for a person to say hello to a woman on the street. It seems to me, in my humble opinion, that in today's reality, in which women are everywhere and are part of society, there is no reason to behave in a strange manner and refrain from saying hello; but the intent is certainly that one should not weave bonds of friendship between women and men, and in particular between married men and married women, for regrettably many are the breaches in this matter and many are the falls.
The example the Rav brings for the distancing of a trait that could be good is the broadening of the mind in matters that contain a moral problem. Even though a person who refrains from studying these matters prevents himself from developing his mind, we refrain from this in order to guard ourselves.
A good evening to all!
From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.