Q. Hello Rav,
Is it permissible for an adult male to participate in a marathon or a large walking event where large groups of people walk together for "a cause"? A couple potential issues would be the fact that you are putting yourself in a place where non-tznius women will be all around you in close proximity and hard to avoid seeing, plus the challenge of avoiding walking behind behind a woman or in between two women. Thanks
A. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that even if the marathon is for a correct and worthwhile cause to support, one should abstain from participating in it, due to the tznius issues involved. Although we do walk and drive in the streets on summer days, it is because we have no available alternative, not so in this case. The Rov added that this is a coordinated group activity where participants share the act as one unit, as opposed to individuals walking or driving in a street. The Rov suggested that there are other meaningful ways to provide support and assistance to worthwhile campaigns.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a
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