We are truly living in troubled times- but there is something we can do together to help bring a yeshua (salvation)!
The Sdei Chemed wrote on Meseches Shabbos (דף ט, עמוד א) over 100 years ago:
“מגפה ראשי תיבות מפני גלוי פאת הנשים”
Corona is from the word coronation- when the virus is looked at under a microscope it appears to have a crown shape.
The mitzvah of Kisui Rosh (hair covering) is considered to be the “crown” of the married Jewish woman. This mitzvah has unfortunately become misunderstood in our generation.
A major part of the confusion is that women think that as long as their hair is physically covered they are perfectly fulfilling the mitzvah of Kisui Rosh. In truth, the primary purpose of the mitzvah is to raise a married woman’s level of modesty. The reason that the Torah prohibits a married woman to reveal her hair is because her hair is attractive to men.
As explained in the Trumat Hadeshen:
”אסור גלוי הראש אינו אלא משום פריצות דגברי“
The prohibition of uncovered hair is
because it is pritzus (immodest) to men
And in the Maalos Hamiddos:
”שערות האשה הן פריצות וערוה ומרגילין את האדם להרהור ותאווה“
The hair of a married woman is considered immodest and ervah and incites a person to forbidden thoughts and desires
Rav Falk zt”l writes in his booklet Mitzvos Kisui Saaros that “The Torah requires a married women to conceal her hair from the eyes of the public in order to lessen attraction to herself.” (page 7)
In Oz Vehadar Levusha, (page 265) it states that in numerous places in the Torah hair is highlighted as a major source of attraction. Accordingly, by commanding the married woman to withhold from the public how she looks in her true hair, there is far less danger of a person being drawn to her and Kedushas Yisroel is guaranteed.
It is a grave sin for a man to look at a married woman inappropriately– she therefore needs an extra protection of modesty to ensure that she is not attracting men. A married woman’s head covering is supposed to create a barrier between herself and other men. Since hair is so attracting to men it is therefore required to be covered after marriage. The less the head covering resembles hair the better the mitzvah of Kisui Rosh is being fulfilled- with a material head covering (tichel/hat) obviously preferable as it doesn’t resemble hair at all. A sheitel that looks like natural hair attracts inappropriate stares and that goes against the entire purpose of the mitzvah of Kisui Rosh. As it says in Rabbi Falk’s sefer Oz vehadar levusha: “Hair was given the status of ervah by Chazal because when part of a female that should be covered is uncovered it can affect a man who sees it and cause him to feel attracted to it.” (page 228)
In a scientific study it was proven that the most attracting features of a woman to
a man is her hair and voice. It makes no difference if it’s her hair or someone
else’s hair- if it attracts other men, it’s defeating the purpose of the mitzvah. It is not only the matter of the length of the wig, it’s the natural appearance that is the issue. Almost all of today’s wigs do not qualify for the fulfillment of this mitzvah.
In The Unique Princess by Rabbi Yirmiyohu and Tehilla Abramov it says, “The halachic opinions that permit the wearing of wigs were talking about wigs that were short, unnatural looking, and “wiggy”. Such wigs were in use a century ago, explains Maran HaGaon Rav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv, shlita. They were short and stiff, and the hairs did not move from their place.” (page 103)
Further on it says, “Rav Elyashiv also clearly stated that in his opinion it is preferable for a woman to cover her hair with a kerchief rather than a wig. He constantly expressed his concern about the use of wigs that are not modest- a practice which, he says, has made inroads even into the families of pious men and roshei Yeshivah. Maran Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt”l, expressed the same concern. As he once put it to Rav Dan Segal, shlita: “They cover their hair, and then make every effort to make it look uncovered. Therefore, in my opinion this is a loathsome thing. But who can we talk to?” He also said that, when Mashiach comes, the first thing he’ll do is abolish the use of wigs (as quoted by his son-in-law, shlita). Many halachic authorities and Torah scholars in our time agree with this approach.” (page 105)
In a letter written by Rav Moshe Mordechai Karp shlita it says, “Many times, we heard from Rav Elyashiv zt”l, how pained he was by this great breach (immodest wigs), and how much he encouraged Jewish women to go with a kerchief, which he considered “Glatt”, because even the old wigs, were a matter of controversy amongst the poskim…”
Rav Falk zt”l mentions tichels too in his sefer Oz Vehadar levusha: “Some communities are particular that women do not wear sheitels. They follow opinions which consider a sheitel an inappropriate cover as it displays hair, and the Torah requires that a married woman does not display hair. The fact that a sheitel is not her true hair is immaterial according to their opinion. Those who wear a Tichel, either for the reason mentioned or because they wish to wear the original headwear of the Jewish woman, demonstrate that they happily accede to covering their hair as Hashem wants them to…” (page 254)
This information is vital for women to know as this is a mitzvah of great importance that women perform every day. The yetzer horah knows this and has caused great confusion as Rav Falk zt”l writes: “It appears that the yetzer horah has found himself
no greater target than the holy mitzvah of kisui sa’aros- hair covering, which he continuously undermines with new plots and tactics.” (Mitzvos Kisui Saaros, pages 40)
The key is education. When women learn about the mitzvah of Kisui Rosh and the purpose of the mitzvah (which is not a chok for which we don’t understand the reason) they will understand what is a correct or incorrect head covering. This will help restore true tznius to Klal Yisroel and in this merit we should all greet Moshiach Tzidkeinu speedily in our days.
For more information about the subject of kisui rosh please call 917-924-9900 (women only)
Books available on the topic:
“The Unique Princess” by Rabbi Yirmiyahu and Tehilla Abramov,
“Adorned with Dignity” by Mrs. Chana Toby Friedman
7 Responses
Sounds like a man’s problem.
It’s offensive to me that some Frum From Birth women look down upon other Frum women who wear the Non-Sheitel headcovering. I’ve heard horrible stories about this, and it wrong that some card-carrying Yeshivish and Heimish people think this way.
Wearing jewelry or a crowm on a sheital or tichel is also not modest.
“We are truly living in troubled times- but there is something we can do together to help bring a yeshua (salvation)!The Sdei Chemed wrote on Meseches Shabbos (דף ט, עמוד א) over 100 years ago: “מגפה ראשי תיבות מפני גלוי פאת הנשים” etc etc”.
Can someone help me figure out why my blood is boiling over this post now?!
From day one on this earth, Adam blamed Chava for his sins ״האישה אשר נתת עמדי״. Men are done perfecting and criticizing themselves ?! Our Pure Women( most) are left to be blamed again?!
I Suggest both MEN and WOMEN take initiative to concentrate on themselves and better themselves and STOP pointing fingers on Pure Benot Israel ( even if they are wearing wigs).
If men need help seeing their sins, I can help with one example: Why do I not see Rabbanim signing off on all the Gittin of all the Agonot (women who cannot get married cause their husbands refuse to provide everything they signed off on the Ketoba and with audacity refuse to give the GET גט)?????
If Rabbanim Sign off on a meeting to deal with this issue like they did with the wig issue they will be able to Mekayem the Mitzva of פדיון שבוים . Rabbanim CAN do it it they only WANT to do it! If I had the ability and the opportunity, I would prove from all directions that it is possible to do it from both Torah Sh’Bichtav and Torah She’Beal Peh. The Rabbanim and men enjoy the fact that in the name of their perception of Torah it is not possible to give the Get and hold women hostage. Men enjoy the abuse of power- Yes this is a sin – ״אל תעמוד על דם רעיך״, ״לא תרצח״!
No I am not a Feminist, open your eyes and put yourselves in the shoes of those who are held hostage like that?! Advocate and be the voice of those who don’t have a voice. What happened to the Mitzva of פדיון שבוים ?! At the Time of R’ Akiva 24000 Talmidi Chachamim died for not respecting each other. Respect women, fight for her rights (in the Torah), appreciate and respect them, and you will see the SALVATION you/we yearn for SO much come big time.
Maybe that’s why we have CORONA? did they (Rabbanim) happen to think about what they (men)are doing wrong in life?
At the sin of the Golden Calf, and spying negatively on the land of G-d, MEN were the ones to sin and died for 40 years in the desert. WOMEN did NOT sin. Throughout Jewish history and throughout the Torah we see only how women are praised and favored in the eyes of G-d even the wife of On Ben Pelet who uncovered her hair ( Parashat Korach) in public to save her husband. Among many reasons, Maybe women today are wearing wings to keep their husband’s eyes on them ?! Yes, that comes with a package. Don’t get me wrong, some wigs are too much, but that’s NOT why the ratio of Men to Women dying from Corona is so un proportional.
Men please grow up and own your own sins, stop blaming others especially women for your sins and Women as we always did throughout the Jewish history ״בזכות נשים צדקניות נגאלו ישראל ובזכות נשים צדקניות עתידים ליגאל״ . We the women should look at ourselves and see for ourselves if there is anything we can prefect in our modesty as it is one of our only Mitzvot. Perhaps it could be very long and attractive wigs or any other thing in our modesty. May Hashem forgive and protect all of Am Israel and redeem us really soon ברחמים.
BS”D
I can’t believe the ridiculous comments posted here. I’m a woman and unless you are blind and in denial it’s obvious wigs are not modest and if all women put a scarf instead Mashiach would be here already. And the Torah clearly tells us how modesty protects our people and is blessing to us all- so if you are honest you will see that men noticing the problem are not at fault. Yes they have their work to protect their eyes- but we do too. If you put a donut in front of a person who is obsessed with food he will look and eat it. Hashem
Created men with a strong physical desire- it’s not their problem it’s healthy for them to properly use to seek a wife and have children b”H. So if you have a modesty problem don’t deny it with your “women’s rights” excuses. Any child will tell you that a scarf and hat are the modest head cover and the wigs are completely disgusting not only immodest but made from tuma- no good whichever way you go.
Emes Only, Well said, Totally agree.. Love it!!
The Lubavitcher Rebbe said that sheitels are actually preferable…everyone should follow their own rav on this issue