Pisqa’ 2261
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.2