Linor Abargil under sharp attack: "Enough with this religious proselytizing"
A video by former Miss World Linor Abargil, encouraging women to adopt modest dress and cover their heads, has sparked a heated social media debate. While critics compared her message to "The Handmaid's Tale," Abargil firmly defended her right to express her views.
A new storm is shaking social media following a video posted by former beauty queen and Miss World, Linor Abargil. Abargil, who in recent years has embraced a religious lifestyle, addressed her followers in the video, encouraging them to adopt modest clothing and cover their heads.
"I just want to tell you, my beautiful one, you don't know what you are doing in the heavens when you cover your head, how much light it brings to your life, how much light it does for the world, and how much reward it brings you," she said, adding that, in her opinion, women are "the most beautiful in the world" when they maintain modesty.
The call to maintain modesty sparked a wave of angry reactions from users who saw the remarks as an attempt at preaching, religious proselytizing, and coercion. Many argued that this infringes on women's freedom of choice and attempts to set a single standard for beauty and spirituality. Among the sharp comments were statements such as "what a sad video," "what is the connection between head covering and spirituality?," "enough with this religious proselytizing," and "modesty is character, it is not in a head covering and not in clothes." Some users even compared the mood of the video to the totalitarian state of "Gilead" from the series "The Handmaid's Tale."
Media figures also responded publicly to Abargil's message. Journalist Gaya Koren spoke out against the assertion that beauty and connection to God depend on clothing:
"You are the most beautiful in the world, even when your hair is free and your arms are exposed. God will not love you less, all the rest is vanity of vanities."
Other users reinforced a liberal perspective, expressing pride in their secular lifestyle and noting that their values and motherhood are not defined by their hair.
Abargil, for her part, responded firmly to the criticism, clarifying that her personal background gives her the full right to express her opinion:
"As one who became religious and came from the secular world, I am allowed to say my opinion and I will continue to say it, and if it arouses resistance in you, then ask yourself why."
This is not the first time Abargil's halachic choices have sparked sharp public debate. In 2019, when she hosted the torch-lighting ceremony on Independence Day while wearing a prominent head covering, she was criticized by retired judge Ada Rappoport-Rotenberg, which led to thousands of comments in support of Abargil. Now, as the criticism is directed at her active call for other women to cover up, the debate surrounding the boundaries of personal expression and women's freedom of choice in Israel is resurfacing with intensity.
