Question
I understand that according to halacha a woman must cover the upper part of her arm. However, I often see differing sleeve lengths, with some ending right at the elbow and others extending below it. Why is it necessary for sleeves to cover below the elbow? If the obligation is only to cover the area above the elbow, why can’t the sleeve simply stop at the elbow itself?
Answer
Based on the Gemara and Poskim, a woman is forbidden to reveal any part of her arm above the elbow, even temporarily. Therefore, sleeves must extend somewhat below the elbow in order to ensure that the upper arm always remains covered, even when she reaches, bends, lifts, stretches, or performs household work. The Talmud and Poskim make clear that the arm may not become exposed even while a woman is engaged in work. For this reason, the accepted halachic standard is that sleeves should extend below the elbow so that the area above the elbow never becomes revealed through normal movement.
Explanation
The First Source: “Tefach Be’isha Ervah”: One of the primary sources discussing this subject appears in the laws of Krias Shema and prayer. The Gemara teaches that certain normally covered parts of a woman’s body have the halachic status of ervah regarding Torah study and prayer. The Shulchan Aruch rules that if a woman has a tefach of normally covered skin exposed, one may not learn Torah or daven while facing it.
Does This Mean Less Than a Tefach Is Permitted? No. A common misconception is that since the laws of Krias Shema discuss a tefach, perhaps less than a tefach may be left uncovered. This is incorrect. The tefach discussion relates primarily to whether a man may recite Torah and prayer in view of the exposed area. However, regarding the woman’s own obligation of tznius, the Poskim explain and all conclude that the entire area that requires covering must remain covered. Indeed, the author of Kevod Bas Melech notes explicitly that while the laws of Krias Shema discuss a tefach, there is strong evidence that even less than a tefach of the upper arm may not be exposed, and that the obligation is for the area to remain covered entirely, and so is the implies ruling of all the Poskim who write that the zeroa must be covered.
Proof from the Gemara in Kesubos: A powerful proof is found in the Gemara regarding a woman who is classified as violating Das Yehudis. The Gemara states that a woman who exposes her arms while working in public is acting improperly, and this ruling is codified in the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch. The Gemara does not say that only if a tefach becomes exposed there is a problem. Rather, the simple implication is that the exposure itself is improper. The Poskim therefore conclude that the upper arm must remain covered and may not become exposed through ordinary activity.
Das Moshe and Das Yehudis: The Poskim explain that there are two separate concepts involved.
Das Yehudis refers to the standards of modest conduct accepted by Jewish women. The Gemara states that a woman who reveals her arms while engaged in work in public violates Das Yehudis. Some Poskim, however, explain that this refers to a situation in which the arm becomes exposed temporarily through activity, such as weaving, kneading, or other labor. However, for a woman to regularly walk about with short sleeves that permanently expose the upper arm is more severe and enters the category of Das Moshe, as she is constantly exposing an area that halacha requires to be covered. Thus, the issue is not merely occasional exposure due to movement, but the very fact that the upper arm is intentionally left uncovered.
What Exactly Is the “Arm” That Must Be Covered? The Poskim discuss the precise definition of zero’a (arm). After analyzing numerous Talmudic and halachic sources, they conclude that the arm requiring coverage is the section extending from the elbow to the shoulder. This is the area repeatedly referred to by the Poskim as requiring complete coverage.
Why Must the Sleeve Extend Past the Elbow? This is the practical conclusion of the Poskim.
Since the upper arm may never be exposed, a sleeve ending exactly at the elbow will frequently ride upward whenever the wearer bends her arm, reaches for something, lifts a child, cooks, cleans, or performs ordinary daily activities. For this reason, the Poskim write that sleeves should extend somewhat below the elbow, so that even when the arm moves naturally, the halachically required area remains covered. In fact, one rabbinical ruling cited in the source states that sleeves should be made: “Even when they bend and straighten their arms in every manner, the area after the elbow should still remain covered.” This is the reason that traditionally accepted sleeve lengths do not stop exactly at the elbow but continue beyond it.
What If Local Custom Is to Cover More? The Poskim add an important principle. While the area above the elbow is intrinsically required to be covered, if a community has accepted the practice of covering further down the arm, then exposing those additional normally covered areas may also become prohibited under the laws governing normally covered parts of the body. Thus, in communities where women customarily wear sleeves extending close to the wrist, greater coverage may be required.
Practical Summary
- The entire area above the elbow must remain covered.
- The obligation is not merely to cover up until less than a tefach of that area; the upper arm itself may not be exposed.
- The Gemara criticizes exposure of the arm even when it occurs through ordinary work.
- Temporary exposure is included in the concern of Das Yehudis.
- Constant exposure through short sleeves is even more severe.
- Therefore sleeves should extend somewhat below the elbow so that the upper arm remains covered throughout normal movement and activity.
Sources
The prohibition of learning or davening opposite a tefach of a normally covered area: Admur 75:1; Michaber 75:1; Brachos 24a; Ketzos Hashulchan 9:3-6
The ruling that the Zeroa [area above the elbow] has the status of a normally covered area and hence must be covered at all times: Michaber E.H. 115:4; Rambam Ishus 24:12; Kesubos 72a; Semag Asei 48; Bereishis Raba Vayishlach 80; Rokeaich 324; Lechem Chamudos 117; Elya Raba 75:3; Tiferes Shmuel on Rosh 37; Pischeiy Olam 75:3; Chayeh Adam 4:2; Ben Ish Chaiy Parshas Bo 8, 11; Od Yosef Chaiy Bo 1; M”B 75:2 and 7; Kaf Hachaim 75:2-3; Igros Moshe O.C. 1:42; Yabia Omer 6 O.C. 14:3; Kevodo Bas Melech 2:8; Halichos Bas Yisrael p. 70; Piskeiy Teshuvos 75:4; Lehoros Nasan 5:92; See Michaber C.M. E.H. 83:1; Rambam Chovel Umazik 4:15
The ruling that even less than a Tefach above elbow is forbidden to be exposed: All Poskim ibid; Implication of Bava kama 48a and Kesubos ibid; Kevodo Bas Melech, ch. 2 Mavo 2
The Gemara and Poskim regarding a woman exposing her arms while working: Kesubos 72a; Rambam; Shulchan Aruch Even HaEzer 115; Halichos Bas Yisrael p. 70 footnote 23
The definition of the arm requiring coverage as the area from the elbow to the shoulder: Od Yosef Chaiy Bo 1; Mishneh Ohalos 1:8; Chazon ish 16:8; Kevod Bas Melech, ch. 2
The ruling that sleeves should extend beyond the elbow so the arm remains covered while bending and stretching: Kevod Bas Melech, ch. 2
The ruling that temporary exposure is Das Yehudos while permanent exposure is Das Moshe: Yechaveh Das 3:67; Kevod Bas Melech, ch. 2 Mavo 1