Pisqa’ 22689H:236;JN2:136. 1. “A woman must not don a man’s gear; nor may a man dress-up in feminine costume” (Dt.22:5). Now, what is the verse coming to teach us— that a woman should not be dressed in white garments, while a man should not cover himself with colorful garments? [No, for] the Teaching states: “It is abominable” (Dt.22:5)— [the reference is to] a matter of habituation to abominable acts. This is the principle of the matter: A woman should not be dressed as a man dresses, in order to circulate among men. And a man should not adorn himself in feminine adornments in order to circulate among women.
2. R. Eliezer b. Jacob says: On what basis do I know that a woman should not be garbed in weapons and go off to war? The Teaching states: “A woman must not don a man’s gear” (Dt.22:5). And [how do I know] that a man should not adorn himself in feminine adornments? The Teaching states: “And a man shall not dress himself in feminine costume” (Dt.22:5).
3. “For all who do so are abominable to HASHEM your God.” (Dt.22:5)— he is called by five epithets: Condemned; Abominated; Hateful; Disgusting; and Perverted.90// Sifra, qedoshim, per.4:1; cf. Pisqa’ 148.4.
(דברים כב ה) לֹא יִהְיֶה כְלִי גֶבֶר עַל אִשָּׁה, וְכִי מָה בָּא הַכָּתוּב לְלַמְּדֵנוּ, שֶׁלֹּא תִּלְבַּשׁ אִשָּׁה כְּלֵי לְבָנִים וְהָאִישׁ לֹא יִתְכַּסֶּה צִבְעוֹנִים? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: תּוֹעֵבָה, דָּבָר הַבָּא לִידֵי תּוֹעֵבָה. זֶהוּ כְּלָלוֹ שֶׁל דָּבָר: שֶׁלֹּא תִּלְבַּשׁ אִשָּׁה כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהָאִישׁ לוֹבֵשׁ וְתֵלֵךְ לְבֵין הָאֲנָשִׁים, וְהָאִישׁ לֹא יִתְקַשֵּׁט בְּתַכְשִׁיטֵי נָשִׁים וְיֵלֵךְ לְבֵין הַנָּשִׁים.
Pisqa’ 22689H:236;JN2:136.
1. “A woman must not don a man’s gear;
nor may a man dress-up in feminine costume” (Dt.22:5).
Now, what is the verse coming to teach us—
that a woman should not be dressed in white garments,
while a man should not cover himself with colorful garments?
[No, for] the Teaching states:
“It is abominable” (Dt.22:5)—
[the reference is to] a matter of habituation to abominable acts.
This is the principle of the matter:
A woman should not be dressed as a man dresses,
in order to circulate among men.
And a man should not adorn himself in feminine adornments
in order to circulate among women.
רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: מִנַּיִן שֶׁלֹּא תִלְבַּשׁ אִשָּׁה כְּלִי זַיִן וְתֵצֵא לַמִּלְחָמָה? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: לֹא יִהְיֶה כְלִי גֶבֶר עַל אִשָּׁה. וְהָאִישׁ לֹא יִתְקַשֵּׁט בְּתַכְשִׁיטֵי נָשִׁים? – תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: וְלֹא יִלְבַּשׁ גֶּבֶר שִׂמְלַת אִשָּׁה.
2. R. Eliezer b. Jacob says:
On what basis do I know that
a woman should not be garbed in weapons and go off to war?
The Teaching states:
“A woman must not don a man’s gear” (Dt.22:5).
And [how do I know] that
a man should not adorn himself in feminine adornments?
The Teaching states:
“And a man shall not dress himself in feminine costume” (Dt.22:5).
כִּי תוֹעֲבַת ה׳ אֱלֹהֶיךָ כָּל עֹשֵׂה אֵלֶּה, קָרוּי חֲמִשָּׁה שֵׁמוֹת: חֵרֶם, תּוֹעֵבָה, שָׂנאוּי, מְשֻׁקָּץ, וְעַוָּל.
3. “For all who do so are abominable to HASHEM your God.” (Dt.22:5)—
he is called by five epithets:
Condemned; Abominated; Hateful; Disgusting; and Perverted.90// Sifra, qedoshim, per.4:1; cf. Pisqa’ 148.4.