Jerusalem – So, what does a women’s head covering look like? The immediate answer would be a hat or a scarf, but the eight artists participating in the “Glu-ya” exhibition, which opens at the Lifschitz Teachers’ College in Jerusalem on Thursday, have a rather different perception of the issue.
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Head covering for women is a significant topic in the modern ultra-orthodox discourse. The artists – two men and six women, share with the viewers their contemplations: Some from a critical perspective, others from an emphatic one or as a challenging foundation for artistic creation.
The possibility of examining the issue through emphatic eyes can be seen in the work of Micha Simchon, “Covered Women”, which seeks to examine the subject not as an act of female oppression by men, but rather as a celebration of women’s free choice in a world where freedom from religion and freedom of religion are considered equal expressions of personal choice.
Sigal Edelman, in her photographed portraits “Women in Black and White”, raises a similar question: Six women were photographed twice – once as secular figures and once as religious figures wearing a head covering. This work stems from a “post-secular” notion, which asserts that “secularism” and “religiousness” are not opposites, but rather interrelated terms.
A different, critical view is presented by artist Hana Goldberg, who painted a woman whose head covering has been replaced with a transparent nylon bag that covers her entire head. Pnina Geffen’s video, “Woman’s Hair”, expresses the complexity and delicate variety hat exist in a world loyal to Orthodox Halacha.
Stam Shtisim! Abi Geredt!
They do not even begin to understand what a head covering entails in the Jewish womens lives.
I thought there was something weird-looking about the top row–then read he just put tichels on some secular women, who appear as themselves in the bottom row.
does anyone realise that they make them look more fat with the hair covering ?
Head covering for women is a significant topic in the modern ultra-orthodox discourse. —–It is a significant topic among all frum women.
some subjects r better left to the people who knw the rules. if a lady has a issue with covering her hair that’s between her and husband soemthngs r better not to get involved in
No, they make them look more feminine which is something #’s 2 and 3 desperately need. Now about #2 ’s hat, I thought that style went out in 1925 or so. I see them all around Jerusalem and I hate them. They not only don’t flatter ANY face, they make even attractive women look dowdy and frumpy which is NOT necessary. A beautiful scarf in attractive colors and tied artistically can do much to enhance a woman’s look without being a “turn on.”
Sounds like a Nazi-style study
Once you see the words “ULTRA Orthodox” you know it is an “ANTI Observant” article. The word “Ultra Orthodox” is used to marginalize a group which people want to either make fun of, or have the reader consider “foolishly over the line.”
What I know is halacha says you can show a tefach of hair in the front of your head which happens sometimes when a scarf is worn. To be more machmir than halacha is a stringency. So for a woman who wants to follow halacha, it is important to ask your rav and not depend on “what I know.” Choose your rav carefully, my dear sisters, because you not only follow their stringencies, you have to follow their leniencies.
I think the women look nice in both pictures. Let us realize that our enemies are not going to ask us if we are religious or not religious.
In the USA, it is “Take your child to work day” today. I just came home from work where at shift change I was greeted by sleepy youngsters trailing their parents. I think it would be awesome if we could have a “cover-your-hair day” and do fun events on that day.
Shalom
All the am haratzes here, whether the exhibition or the blogs, is overwhelming. The makor for covering your hair is from sotah, based on the gemara Kesubos 72. The private parts issue is based on the gemara Beroshos 24. 2 seperate topics.
The attractive issue is based on the Be’er Sheva responsa 18. Also see Maharil Diskin. There is more to say on this subject but I will let you read all the other “whatever I am in the mood to write” blogs.
“What I know is halacha says you can show a tefach of hair in the front of your head which happens sometimes when a scarf is worn”
Actually, the psak given was that if a tefach of hair is showing, it is ok _BDIEVED_. This tefach includes the entire amount of hair, which means about a fingerswidth across from ear to ear. This psak did not mean that it is mutar LCHATCHILA to start your headcovering further back than the hairline on purpose, rather that if a woman wears a tichel and it slips back slightly, she is not oyver, just needs to fix it.
Somehow, this psak became “generalized” by women who do not understand the concept of covering hair, and want to look for the minimal amount they have to cover. Many of these women will purposely tie a tichel further back, or buy a fall and brush their own hair out over the front so it looks more “natural”
As was stated before, the married woman’s hair is “erva”, just like all other private parts of her body and should be covered in any situation where those parts are covered.
As a yiddishe woman, I am a Bas Melech, and my head covering is my “crown.” I am proud to wear it, not oppressed or inhibited by it.
Something interesting to share: R” Zamir Cohen’s book, The Coming Revolution, has an interesting chapter on “auras.” To make a long story short, photos were taken of secular people with a special (Kirlian) camera and then the same people were photgraphed either donning tfillin or tichel. The “after” shots showed an improved aura. A bit out there, I know, and I don’t fully understand the whole aura concept. Just food for thought. Seriously awesome book, by the way.
When I first saw this, I was kind of hoping it was a hat show. I have about 50 hats similar to #2 . I have been wearing them since I am married (22 years). I do not care if they are in style, they are MY style. My husband loves the way I dress and often tells me so. I try to copy the look of Queen Elizabeth whose head and body are always modestly covered. The Queen is the epitome of an authoritative, intelligent and dignified woman.
when you cover your hair:you are conscious of your status and your responsibility.You remember that you have a husband and you will not FLIRT with other men. You remember that you have a head and you will use it. You remember that there is G-D above you.You remember that you are representing a beautiful Jewish woman, and you actually look beautiful for the rest of your life. YOU LOOK ETERNALLY YOUNG FOREVER. You could go from being a blonde to a brunette to an auburn in seconds, and then back to being a blonde. You could go short, long or medium length,and wear ponytails and buns and hairbands and anything else you may fancy, and your husband will not get bored of you and go look for a variety of other women like they do………………………….etc.etc.etc. The benefits have no limits and reasons I could give you millions,but I’m sure you get the idea already.
While some people have some knowledge here, there are gaping holes that need toi be addressed. So here we go from the beginning.
Pirkei D’Reb Eliezer says that woman was punished at the sin of the aitz hada’as with nine curses and death. Among them are “her head is covered like a mourner and her ear are pierced like an ev ed oilom.” (Men were punished with a different set of nine curses and death, and even though the practice of atifas harosh is not practiced by mourners in many communities, some authorities say the mourner should tilt his hat down over his eyes in symbolic compliance with this custom.) It is interesting to note, the custom of women covering their hair and piercing their ears was almost universal in every society and in every culture on earth until fairly recently. In fact even in the US until the early 1900s a married woman did not go out with some type of head covering. So woman that properly cover their hair have a portion in the tikkun of chait aitz hada’as. The Chofetz Chaim writes “how fortunate we are to be in a country like Poland where even the Gentile women cover their hair.” (I believe that’s in Gedar Oilom but it might be in one of the letters.) There is no diference of opinion that a married woman’s hair must be completely covered. Shulchan Oruch (O”C 75) says that If a tefech is revealed of an area that is usually covered OF HIS WIFE, He cannot say the kriah Shma. The Rema says that this is concerning his wife but less than a tefach in another woman is called erva and he is surely prohibited. The mishnah brura says this includes a single or married woman. He adds that if the calf is revealed even if it his own wife and less than a tefach he is prohibited from saying kriah shma. The Chofetz Chaim, the Tzemach Tzedek , and the Chasam Sofer all wrote that a woman must completely cover her hair, even in her own home. And after the gemora says that Kimchis had seven sons who served as Kohanim Gedolim in the merit of meticulously covering her hair what orthodox, G-d fearing woman would pass up on such a possibility? Obviously one who is not so orthodox or G-d fearing as she purports to be. At this point I will mention the first chapter in Shulchan oruch. It states the HALACHA that a person should not be embarassed by those that ridicule his/her service of Hashem. Who is it talking about? A shvartza with baggy shorts 12 sizes too big, orange socks and purple sneakers with pantyhose on his head who asks “Why do Jews dress so strange?” Is it talking about you frei relatives who shrug and say “as long as you’re happy.”? NO NO NO! It’s talking about the people who sit next to you in an “Orthodox” shul and tell you don’t be so farfrumpt. The reason is simple, because no one else’s opinion is important to you in these matters.
Next case, There are woman who think they are frum and tzniusdig, who have no clue whatsoever what the word tznius means. Tznius is not a sleeve length, Tznius comes from the word tzanua and means the women, not her arms, were hidden. A woman can be covered from collar bones to toes in a skin tight, bright red, leather, body suit and it’s not tzniusdig according to anyones opinion. The woman is called an Isha tznua or not, there is not a matzeivah in the world that says “po nitmun ha’isha chashuva shehysa loveshes tznias.”
Has anyone considered that the ancient practise of wearing a head cover could be related to preventative health care. I have recently read that ‘particulates’ falling onto the head of a person could possibly be the cause of alzheimers (I hope I spelt that right) funny, I can’t remember where I read it!