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It says in Maseches Sota (8a) that that if a woman would be punished by stoning, she would be stoned virtually unclothed, and men would be allowed to attend. The Gemara says that there is no concern for improper thoughts as she is dead, and people only have thoughts for the woman which they saw unclothed (so they would not desire other women by seeing this one, and this one is dead).

Huh??? - If someone saw an inappropriate movie but in real life the actress was dead (he was watching an old movie), he won't have inappropriate thoughts??

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you are asking a bigger question but I would respond first to the smaller one. In the movie the actress isnt really dead. But I would say that yes probably if one saw the body of an actress in a movie and she or he was pale / bloody and naked one would probably not have sexual thoughts. –  Eytan Yammer Apr 16 '12 at 18:43
I haven't seen the gemara inside, but based on what you wrote, it doesn't matter if the man has inappropriate thoughts, as long as he doesn't have them about other (living) women. –  Baal Shemot Tovot Apr 16 '12 at 19:01
Can you clarify your question? I think I'm having trouble understanding it, based on the comments above mine. –  Seth J Apr 16 '12 at 19:19
@SethJ it doesn't say anywhere in the gemara that it depends on mutilation. –  Shmuel Brin Apr 16 '12 at 19:19
Based on the chat linked above, it appears that Shmuel's question still stands according RY. My mistake. –  HodofHod Apr 17 '12 at 0:38
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1 Answer

up vote 8 down vote accepted

First, to clarify, people are not executed completely naked (as noted by HodofHod).

There are two concerns involved here: 1.) Desiring a particular woman, which may lead to promiscuous behavior. 2.) Gazing at a woman with intent to derive pleasure.

In this scenario, concern #1 does not apply because she is being executed. Concern #2 could theoretically be a problem; it is still forbidden for someone to gaze at the woman while intending to derive pleasure. However, we do not expect people to do that under the circumstances.

If you watch a movie with a dead actress who is not dressed properly, concern #1 does not apply. However, you are watching a movie - not attending an execution. Therefore concern #2 still applies and it's forbidden to watch footage of an immodestly dressed woman who has since died.

This topic as it pertains to a dead woman is discussed in the Teshuvos HaBach (Yeshanos, 17).

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i only read the beginning of the teshuva, but I don't see where he says that people wont have hirhur cuz of the somber mood, rather (from what i understand) he says that sekila is min hatorah and therefore "more important" than being choshesh for hirhur. –  Baal Shemot Tovot Apr 16 '12 at 19:39
The Bach writes that since executing the woman in this manner is a biblical requirement, we are not concerned about such thoughts. This may mean that, since the attendees are participating in a mitzvah (e.g.וְיַד כָּל הָעָם בָּאַחֲרֹנָה or וְכָל הָעָם יִשְׁמְעוּ וְיִרָאוּ (Devarim, 17)), and that mitzvah requires the woman to be undressed, we do not expect people to have inappropriate thoughts. Alternatively, you may be correct that he means that the risk of inappropriate thoughts is outweighed. Either way, people are not permitted to actively indulge in such thoughts. –  Toras EMES 613 Apr 16 '12 at 22:46
+1. what does HT stand for? –  Baal Shemot Tovot Apr 16 '12 at 22:55
Hat tip, i.e. thanks! –  Toras EMES 613 Apr 16 '12 at 22:56
I should add that the fact that it is an execution is in and of itself enough of a reason why people are less likely to look at the woman with the wrong intent ("Ika chashasha d'hirhura b'miktzas" - "There nevertheless remains a certain amount of risk that people will succumb to prurient thoughts"). That may have factored into the Bach's explanation for why the Torah requirement to execute her in such a way is enough to permit men to attend. –  Toras EMES 613 Apr 17 '12 at 2:48
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