Covering Hair with a WIG! What's the Point?

You may have always wondered why Jewish women are required to cover their hair after marriage.
In this video, Mrs. Rochie Farkash, director of Chabad of Bellevue-Redmond in Seattle, Washington, unpacks the important details around this mysterious commandment. Explore the ideas of modesty, commitment, and personal Judaism -- all as they relate to covering the hair.
What do you think of Jewish women covering their hair? Let us know in the comments below 👇
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[@aroyaliota]

We still attract with the hair of others. The inconsistencies with this argument are glaring.

[@joolspools777]

That's what I'm thinking. The wig might look more beautiful than your own hair..might be more attracting. Why not cover your hair completely? God always looks at the heart. It's good to know why the women wear wigs though.

[@TalkingTorah613]

I think it was a mistake for her to explain a reason behind hair covering. There is no reason. Its not about “not attracting”. We are told what to do, we follow. We don’t know why God wanted married women to cover their hair. Tznius in general is about self respect, a woman disrespects herself by dressing immodestly. However if a man sees an immodestly dressed woman he should still respect her and not stare at her. He should just think, especially in this generation, that she has a good soul but a lack of education and has been misled by society.

[@aroyaliota]

@@user-ix5tq4zn3uwhen she made that statement it became a point. Whatever the religious rite, fake hair can be more beautiful than our own hair. Beautiful wigs v natural hair? The attraction is what it is. I wear a head covering in a church that doesn’t require it. I don’t explain, nor fret over it if I forget. These religious rites are just that. Legalistic rites. The motivation of the heart is the overarching point. Whatever you wear counts for nothing if our motivation is off.

[@purpleandred7]

​​@@TalkingTorah613 I'm curious as to why you'd think a woman would have a lack of education or has been misled by society if - in your words - she is dressed immodestly? Those are your assumptions. Not everyone believes the same .. we each have our own religious beliefs. I am a non-Catholic Christian, but I don't make assumptions about Judaism or your religion. I may not agree with yours, but I don't, and would not, put you down by saying you're ignorant for your beliefs, or you lack education, or society has misled you because of what religion you choose to believe in. I respect your choices just as you should respect others who don't choose to believe the same way .. without labeling them. We are all to be judged only by God, and we are to show God's love to others. Putting them down because they don't share your beliefs is not a show of God's love for each other. If we all showed more of His love this world would be in a much better place. There absolutely CAN be unity without sharing the same religious beliefs.

[@TalkingTorah613]

@@purpleandred7 well lets assume you accept my premise that dressing modest is for a women's own good and her going about immodestly is a slight to her own honor that she inflicts upon herself, what is the most favorable explanation you could give about such a woman? Or let's say you saw a person who used crass language or acted childish or in any manner you personally find lacking dignity, so you're on the same page as me, what's the most favorable interpretation of such behavior you would use? Maybe I'll learn something from you?

[@miriammayamocker4686]

For me the cost of those scheitels is a chilul HaShem! The wig she is wearing cost about $3000 minimum. Those money could’ve been donated to Tzedakka!

[@kiavra1789]

No amount of money is too big for a mitzvah Tzedaka is important, but then one can say "Don't buy food because you have to give tzedaka!" - You first need to make sure your own needs are taken care of first (while still giving 10%) and then if you can give more

[@TalkingTorah613]

Im surprised to hear this from a woman. I would expect it from a man, but a woman? Anyway, there’s a big kiddush hashem to a woman dressing tznius and looking nice. There is not only nothing wrong with a woman looking nice, but it’s a positive thing, those expensive sheitels look nicer. Ofcourse women care about this stuff much more than men, and it’s also healthy and normal that woman would want a nice sheitel. Its a big enough challenge women have covering their hair as it is. Not all women have this need, my wife like most sefardim wears a tichel, but thats not for everyone and it’s best not to judge as long as it falls in the realm of normative halacha.

[@chanoellemusic2037]

I am all for, for covering one's hair... however, covering one's hair with a pagen wig is unacceptable. 😢 This is my understanding of Rashi and Maimonidies teachings. Sorry for the misspelling.

[@sportplus123]

I'm a Muslim and I want learn about Jewish

[@reconjeeper0321]

A very simple beautiful woman. Nice job, and I can understand the point she is making.

[@DiabolicalAngel]

I always wondered about this.

[@karunastar3084]

You expressed that in such a beautiful way. Thank you 🙏🏼

[@thegoldenbowl5217]

Omg I worked for my former jewish boss who did this...I always assumed she was wearing wigs cause I thought she had cancer...lol...she was totally fine and in good health

[@Avishai-rx3py]

If you don’t know where your hair comes from, then that can be a big problem because the majority of the excellent quality hair comes from India and over there, they sacrifice it to their idols and then when it’s fashioned and made then you put it on your head. Wow You should know what you’re putting on your head and if you really really are so desperate for the wig, you should make sure that it does not come from idol worshipping places

[@celiaowen2444]

For me the argument ( although I do agree about pagan hair) what were the circumstances of the person whose hair it is. Was she coerced, was she trafficked, was she given a fair price is she sold it to feed her children? And many other possible reasons. And regarding Tzedakah as someone mentioned could the money spent on the wig have helped those women in need far more than what they were paid for the hair. For these reasons I Would never buy or wear a human hair wig. In my mind it represents sacrifice of a sort and for what? I won’t answer that but it’s worth consideration before HaShem certainly by our rabbi’s and Beit Din

[@purpleandred7]

@Avishai-rx3py, also .. couldn't a man also be attracted to a woman's hair if she is wearing a wig? What would the difference be? I truly ask this with a sincere heart, in understanding. I do understand a woman covering her hair with a scarf, where none of her hair shows; but I'd like to understand how replacing her hair with another hair, and showing that hair, is different?

[@purpleandred7]

​@@celiaowen2444 certainly a lot to think about .. and you covered it well

[@Avishai-rx3py]

@@purpleandred7 long long story short the rabbis who allowed it in the past were very few, and the wigs back then were so ugly you knew for sure it’s a wig. Now it has evolved into something else and is more attractive than real hair. We cannot police the women in what to wear but advise them of how it started and what was acceptable by the few rabbis and where the hair is sourced from. In this modern day and age it is a hard test for women to be as zealously modest as they were in the past.

[@retiredref]

PLEASE GIVE THE TANACH SCRIPTURES FOR THIS COMMAND FROM G-D. There is no argument with scriptural proof. Please provide them.

[@peachesb-georgia1125]

Wonderful explanation 😃...

[@computerhelpcc]

1. Cuz baseball caps less fashionable. 2. Bald looked great in Star Trek 1 but far less so for Sinead O’connor 3. “Tradition!” ??? I now don an umbrella for the tomatoes heading my way….

[@gonefishing167]

I’m not trying to,be disrespectful here but doesn’t a woman want to be attractive to her husband? Surely a bald head is not attractive. Or is the wig worn all the time. I can see how nowadays it’s easy to source hair but how did they do it hundreds and hundreds of years ago. Please, if you think this is, frankly, none of my darn business , I totally understand. 🙏🙏👵🇦🇺

[@seektruth581]

She’s not bald. Most Orthodox Jewish women don’t shave their heads. Only the Satmar sect shave their heads as a custom. The correct perspective is for a woman to wear a scarf and many do.

[@seektruth581]

There are 2 commandments for women regarding this. To cover their hair and to be modest. The problem most people have is the part about being modest. Many argue that appearing in public as if you are not covered is attracting men and immodest. There are other issues though since most wig hair comes from Indian temples whose hair was sacrificed to a foreign god.

[@retiredref]

What are the scriptures? Context? Please explain. Thank you.

[@Retarmy1]

I like learning about the Jewish people im catching and I like to listen to the rabbi explain the old testament i watch videos by dr. Henry aberson Jewish history lab

[@3llionaireX]

BUT YOUR HAIR IS YOUR COVERING 😲

[@seektruth581]

Are you referring to Paul in the the New Testament? I’m pretty sure your interpretation is wrong because historically Christian women have always covered their hair in church. Only until recently did people interpret it differently. Even not long ago women would wear hats to church.

[@John14-24]

What I don’t understood is this . Why is the hair the line ?? A woman’s face is pretty , why is that not covered too . Or is that why Muslims cover their face …. 😮

[@TalkingTorah613]

Covering hair has nothing to do with “pretty”, I think if she gave that impression it was a mistake, perhaps she’s mistaken herself. We don’t know why hair is to be covered after marriage, we just know it is.

[@John14-24]

@@TalkingTorah613thank you . I’ll accept that

[@YeshuaSaves3]

Use a head covering?

[@gl9088]

One understanding of the difference between the beauty of a woman’s hair and the beauty of a wig, is that a woman generally carries herself differently when she feels that it is *she* who is attractive, vs a wig that is attractive. The energy is very different. And it’s not about what others think about the hair, but about what she does and the effect it has on her.

[@retiredref]

Please elaborate. Why are you not just grateful that HASHEM let you be born with hair? Why take another woman’s hair that HE gave her and cover what he gave you? The example in Tanach is of a woman in sin. I am personally extremely thankful that he gave me hair on my head and I will honor HASHEM by keeping it longer and well kept. Modest. If someone finds themselves attracted to you, that’s their sin and has nothing to do with you. Deut. 4:2 says we are not to add to or take from HASHEM’s word. There is no command from HASHEM for a woman entering a marriage to cover her hair. Just be grateful for HIS created HEAD covering. Shalom.

[@B4DWrath]

It's a sin to find someone attractive??? 🤯🤯🤯

[@retiredref]

@@B4DWrath ?

[@retiredref]

@@B4DWrath I’m unsure how you took that in that way? This is talking about a married woman covering her G-d given head covering. If another man looks on a married woman’s hair and is turned on by it, that’s HIS sin. The woman keeping her hair modest and beautiful glorifies our Creator. He didn’t create us to be bald. He covered our heads beautifully. We should be in gratitude for that and no human man has a right to say G-d commands us otherwise.

[@B4DWrath]

@@retiredref You said above "If someone finds themselves attracted to you, that's their sin..." Name one command of HaShem that says being attracted to someone is a sin.

[@B4DWrath]

@@retiredref Getting turned on by an attractive feature of a woman is a normal biological function, whether she's married or not. If HaShem didn't call it sin, neither should we. It only turns into sin when he dwells on the attraction and starts to lust after her. Misandry is just as disgusting as misogyny.