The Modi’in Illit Municipality recently distributed a modesty code to all its employees, together with instructions for proper interaction between men and women in the workplace.

The municipality said the guidelines, distributed alongside the tax forms for 2018, was non-binding and that the purpose of the form was to “bring to the attention of the workers” the instructions of the Rabbonim.

However, the Haaretz newspaper published a report on Tuesday, 21 Shevat, citing complainants that state they were required to express consent to the regulations and sign it. The municipality countered that the rules had been published for years, and was signed by many employees.

The prohibitions include men and women sharing informal greetings such as “hello” and “goodbye,” eating together and communicating with one another after hours – including for work related matters. Men and women should sit in separate offices and if they have to meet, at separate tables spaced substantially apart.

Women are warned not to dress in “fancy clothing” not in line with Halacha.

The Tznius regulations state there can be “serious obstacles”  should men and women interact with one another in the workplace.

The regulations extend to transportation, stating men and women should not share public transportation; and if absolutely necessary than women must sit in the rear of the vehicle. It is stated: “At least in the first four rows of buses there should be no women sitting at all, not even with their husbands.”

The guidlines also say there should not be efforts to get to know each others family’s – including visits and joint trips.

The memo stated: “It is the duty of management to ensure that their workers observe all the rules in practice, and that husbands must also demand that these regulations be observed by their wives.”

It is noted that a few years ago, the High Court of Justice ruled in a petition by women’s organizations against the “Mehadrin Lines” that sending women to the back of the transportation vehicles is illegal, unless all the passengers and passengers are willing.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)