covering hair

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

Yes. The Torah requires women to use a minimal covering of their hair in public places. Possibly the size of an oversized Yarmulka. The Rabbis added to this law by including even less public areas and a larger covering that will cover almost all the hair. In the house and the car etc..., it is technically permitted to have your hair uncovered, even when there are others in the house, but if you live in an area where they would shun that, then it pays to avoid that too. The law can get even stricter, depending on the local customs. If you live in an area where observant women (who cover their hair) let only very minimal or no hair show from their hats or wigs, you are obligated to follow. Most of the laws of Tzniut can become stricter based on local customs. There is an opinion that human hair wigs are not permitted, either. My father allows them. That is the law. Now, if any of our readers (surfers) are not currently covering their hair, there are a few things you should realize. Covering your hair is certainly one of the harder things associated with observant Judaism. Kashrut is easy to get used to & gets easier with this web site. Shabbat has many benefits that outweigh the harder parts. A woman covering her hair day-in, day-out is tough. But at the same time it is still the law. It gets even harder when we see so many friends and neighbors who are some good real fine people and who do not cover their hair. And we see some specific people who are "frum" or super religious, and cover their hair almost like the Taliban, but they are horrible people on all standards. This concept is real and is presented to us by our Yetzer Harah. Our requirement as Jews is to ignore all these things; both the good influences and the bad ones, and just look at one thing. The only thing we should be looking at, is what does God want from me? What is the rule that he set for me to keep? Once you realize that, and are determined that you must cover your hair, start with keeping a cap or some kind of hat near the door and throw it on every time you run out of the house. Then a while later, go out and buy a wig for special occasions. There are many stores that sell wigs that almost match your hair exactly. Do it gradually and over time you will be able to succeed. Try not to let friends, family, and neighbors influence you. For some people that is the largest obstacle. After two years, you will look back and feel like a million bucks. It says "Aizehu Gibor? HaKovesh Et Yitzro." Who is a strong person? One who conquers his will.(loose translation) Switching to covering your hair is a similar yet deeper feeling than climbing Mount Everest. You can look back at those "frum" or super religious that we mentioned before, and suddenly realize that they are very weak and clearly not capable of doing what you have done; they're at the foot of the mountain looking for an escalator! Good Luck to all the climbers! Aaron Abadi