Sheitals

Question

This whole sheital thing has really reached incredible proportions. The manufacturers have (as far as I can tell) stopped supplying wigs that contain any Human hair even on a wholesale level because they (the manufacturers) fear that their entire product line will be deemed traif if they do not destroy their inventory. Of course the local kollel is holding a "night of learning, understanding and exploration" on the topic of sheitals and avoda zara. Most Rabbis seem certain that sheitals will not be sold without a hashgacha!! At this point the only wigs that it seems are available are synthetics which are being sold for outrageous prices by the frum companies who are trying to recoup their losses and the very very expensive 'kosher certified" Russian Human hair that is only available in lighter browns and blonds. (This leaves a Sephardic woman with very dark hair stuck with African American wigs!!!) It seems as though the information that the majority of wigs could not possibly be connected with India or that Temple and even those that are definitely connected with that Temple do not even have the taint of Avoda Zara has not stopped the insanity that has swept up the entire Jewish world. This website is the only voice of reason and sanity that I can find anywhere now. Honestly I am shocked that the sheital thing has gone this far and for this long. Now it seems like it will become a permanent part of Jewish observance! I really do not see any end in sight to this, the wig burnings continue, the schools are continuing to ban teachers from coming to school in human hair wigs and I don't even have the choice to hold by Rabbi Abadi's psak because my wholesale shipment of human hair and blends was held up by the manufacturer awaiting further notice.(not that I would have any customers!) Sheitals are such a fundamental part of a Jewish woman's observance it seems like an impossible thing to deal with. This ban is becoming so universally endorsed by Rabbeim everywhere that it is being regarded as Torah level commandment. I am hoping that some sense and reason is coming to light in the NY/NJ area and that maybe it will spread out of town. Is there any end in sight to all of this??? Please we are in need of some chizuk.

Answer

Answered by Chaim Yisrael Abadi

It will take some time. In Lakewood most women are wearing wigs already. There will always be those that feel the need to feel very frum and not wear a wig to send a message to ????. Either way, Rav Elyahav's P'sak is only for people who follow him for everything. CYA