What does the Torah say about cross-dressing?

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What does the Torah say about cross-dressing?

by Rabbi Mendy Hecht

Firstly, let's define "cross-dressing," of which there are two types. There's the silly party stuff that guys and gals occasionally indulge in for fun, like donning a wig or other garment that makes them appear like a woman (or a man). That (for the most part) is inconsequential.

Then there’s the serious stuff, where guys go en femme from sporadically to regularly, and from one private piece of apparel to a full public make-over. Or when women go all macho, dressing in a very manly fashion.

G-d doesn't say, "Don't get hungry for pork"--G-d says, "Don't eat pork."... He acknowledges that you may have certain innate desires, but tells you to how to react to them

This latter type of cross-dressing, whichever reason motivating it, is not allowed.

G-d understands that some people have a preference for cross-dressing and acknowledges this reality by mentioning this law in the Torah.

In other words, G-d does not consider one evil or immoral for his or her innate sexual nature or desire, just like He doesn't consider one evil or immoral for wanting to eat non-Kosher. G-d doesn't say, "Don't get hungry for pork"--G-d says, "Don't eat pork." Likewise with sexuality, He acknowledges that you may have certain innate desires, but tells you to how to react to them.

In the case of cross-dressing G-d says "A man's attire shall not be on a woman, nor may a man wear a woman's garment".¹

It is important to note that according to Jewish law, the prohibition of cross-dressing is only violated when one puts on something that is exclusively the domain of the opposite sex.

Footnotes

1. Deuteronomy 22:5

Related Categories

Women & Judaism » Modesty
Daily Life » Clothing » Modesty

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