CHANTAL ABITBOL

WHILE a group of European rabbis have voiced fears that the use of full-body scanners at airports would clash with Jewish codes of modesty, local rabbis won’t be raising any objections.

Last week discussions were held between federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese and the US Department of Security about the prospect of using the cameras at Australian airports.

The scanners, like X-ray machines, will be able to see through fabric to detect objects hidden next to the skin.

Canada, The Netherlands, and some cities in the US have already said they will implement full-body scans. Other countries around the world are also considering similar measures.

A number of Orthodox rabbis abroad have argued that such a practice -– where bodies will appear nude on screens -– would compromise a woman’s modesty.

However, both Progressive and Orthodox rabbis in Australia seemed to recognise the need to step up security after the attempted airline bombing of a US-bound flight last month.

North Shore Temple Emanuel’s Rabbi Gary Robuck said: “While the value of modesty is paramount, if it can be demonstrated that [body scanning] can protect the security and life of people, then that is the more important principle.

“It is a great example of how Judaism must be seen to respond to new developments.”

The sentiment was echoed by Sydney’s Rabbi Dovid Slavin from the Yeshiva Centre. Though he acknowledged that there were concerns, he said there was “adequate room within halachah to accommodate the security threats that face us”.

He explained that according to Jewish law, just as a doctor can see a patient’s body in order to provide treatment, it would be permitted for a security official to carry out body scans because “there is no interest in anything else but the job at hand”.

He also suggested that another way to protect Jewish sensibilities would be for the person reviewing the scan to not have any face-to-face contact with the subject.

“It has to be done properly,” he said.