Liberal Judaism’s Rabbi Charley Baginsky (pictured) has criticised a letter sent by an ultra-Orthodox rabbi to 5,000 Jewish women, which stated that it is a sin to wear fitted blouses, short skirts or bright colours.

Charley, Liberal Judaism’s director of strategy and partnerships, said: “In the month of Elul we are called to reflect. There strikes me as something amiss when the focus of reflection is the way that women dress. This time of the year calls us to think how we could do things differently, how we can go forward in the new year determined to lead lives that can leave the world a little better because we lived.

“Not only is there nothing in Torah that tells women that it is ‘truly loathsome’ to wear bright colours – as this letter states – but it perpetuates a message that this is an acceptable way to behave towards women.

“As Liberal Jews not only do we recognise the right of women to dress in any way they choose, but we try to use the period of Elul as a chance to work on ourselves as individuals, to reflect on what we as individuals can change, to apologise for our mistakes and not as a chance to suggest that what someone might wear is responsible for the wrongs in the world.”