Hareidi Ladies Wig Out Over Trayfe Shaytels
The NY Times reports,
For thousands of Orthodox women, one of the most fundamental practices of daily life — adhering to the code of modesty that prohibits a public display of their hair after marriage — was thrown into turmoil this week by a ruling from a distant authority. More than 5,700 miles away in Israel, several rabbis issued a ban on wigs made in India from human hair, which is used to make many of the wigs sold in Brooklyn. The rabbis said the hair may have been used in Hindu religious ceremonies, which like other pantheistic practices are considered idolatrous in Orthodox teaching.
Uh, can anyone here name one religious ceremony in which Hindus use wigs, and how they might later end up in the hands of frum women? More on that in Ha’aretz.
In the meantime, anyone wanna buy 45,000 used wigs?
[Update] A friend-of-a-friend writes, “Please ask you wives not to wear any panties that have Egyptian cotton. Apparently the cotton which comes from Egyptian sheep may be part of an idolatrous practice. It is customary for the Egyptian man while having sex with the sheep to scream out “Oh my G-d, oh my G-d!” This is obviously some sort of worship. Therefore until further clarification, we ask that all women in the community not wear their underwear.”
Actually many rituals in India would involve wigs, but they’re generally not at all realistic(the wigs), and they would never end up being sold as head covers. This is just funny.
gross
can anyone here name one religious ceremony in which Hindus use wigs To be fair, the Ha’aretz article (and others on this topic) are quite clear: this has absolutely nothing to do with any wigs being used anywhere in India in any Hindu (or Sikh, or Muslim, or Jainist) ceremony.
Rather, the line from Rav Elyashiv is that some religious ceremony involves the cutting of hair, which priests then sweep up from the temple floor and sell for wigs.
(True? Untrue? I have no clue. Google points to tonsures, which are apparently controversial.
ASSOCIATION OF CHABAD RABBONIM OF ILLINOIS ISSUE OPINION ON “SHEITLACH”
In answer to the many inquiries about the possibilty of problems with Sheitels – ACRI (ASSOCIATION OF CHABAD RABBONIM OF ILLINOIS) does not feel that there is sufficient reason to warrant any concern at this time.
All women should continue to wear their Sheitlach as in the past. Before purchasing a new Sheitel contact your Rav.
Hry I linked to you guys at http://www.teens4change.blogspot.com ,keep fighting the good fight. salaam nizzles.
Your update was the funniest thing I’ve ever read. Ever.
More importantly, I’m favorite placing your blog here, and sending the link to all of my Jewish friends.
Yours,
Kachina