(Below is an unedited letter submitted to us by a reader. TLS welcomes your letters at [email protected] . The views are solely those of the writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of TLS).
Dear Editor,
I’m addressing this letter to benefit the mature women of our community.
I have once again returned home after taking care of errands, and I am once again bothered by something I see each time. Why are Lakewood women shopping in the non-Jewish stores wearing snoods? I understand if people are strapped for time and for carpooling or local shopping they rush out in a snood. However, why in each aisle in Target, Walmart etc.. are women attracting unnecessary questioning looks from strangers because of their headgear? These women are dressed nicely with tights, shoes, skirts, sweaters…and some even with make-up! Why was there time for all that and just not that spare minute to put on a Sheitel? Our dress code should be respectful and dignified and I don’t see a snood portraying that image. As a side mention, even between Jewish shoppers, some women’s snoods are worn in a most unTznisudik manner, posing many problems to men shoppers. Women, please take an extra minute to put on your Sheitel before heading out to shop.
Thank you,
A Sheitel wearer.
Rabbi Falk is a big posek – who are you to disagree with him?
Rabbi Falk is a big posek – who are you to disagree with him?
"if you're worried about the goyim – maybe you should get tattoos, multiple well placed piercings, and speak with foul language.
July 6, 2009 2:46 PM"
as a "goyim" may i just say why don't you think for yourself instead of what your rabbi tells you to think, express yourself freely and throw down the bonds of self oppression you have placed on yourself by allowing others to form your views and opinions, it might do you a great deal of good to get a tattoo, it may just give you a greater appreciation for your body and enhance your well being, further in response to part of your statement that struck my nerve most, please step down off your high horse, i work with hasidim and have nothing but respect for them, they are a great bunch of guys, but they speak every bit as foul as the goyim you place beneath you, your children are no better i hear the language they use talking to one another and the things they call hispanics and blacks, i have no doubt many of them hear it straight from their parents mouth
finally, as i think you get the picture on how i feel about freedom of expression it will come as no surprise when i say if she wants to wear a snood let her wear a snood, let her wear a wig, let her show off her own hair, let her wear colorful clothing that lightens the mood of all she comes in contact with, allow her to be herself
thank you in advance should the blogowner allow this post
I pity the husband of this letter writer.
Oich mir a deah zugger.
Reb Yoshe Ber is Genacks Rebbe as well.
Paula Young shaitels are the way to go.
r ahron kotler held that women should only wear shaitels ask anyone in lakewood twenty years ago you would not see a tichel or snood in the street
I think all ladies who want to wear a snood while shopping should get an Ishur.
To Anonymous at 10:47 "The Goyim"
You bring up some very valid points. As you can very well see there is a wildfire of debate going on here regarding the topic(I happen to have not written any of the above comments). I just want to touch on one point you mention. I quote: "i work with hasidim and have nothing but respect for them, they are a great bunch of guys, but they speak every bit as foul as the goyim you place beneath you, your children are no better i hear the language they use talking to one another and the things they call hispanics and blacks, i have no doubt many of them hear it straight from their parents mouth"
In the world the term "Hasidim"is used very loosely. Not every person with a jacket and/or black hat is "Hasidic". Unfortonately it is true that there are many of us that use foul language…do not do everything we stand for… The majority of "Orthodox Jews" however are far from what you describe. They do not despise Hispanics or blacks. They are refined in their actions,talk and in their general way of life. We do not hold ourselves "higher" or "better" than others rather we put ourselves to a "greater standard" meaning we expect more of ourselves. You will always find rotten apples in a bunch. If you go to Amish country you'll find that many of the children part from their family's refined ways…It is not fair to make a blanket statement like you say.
Vus bets du mechila fun a shaigetzel?
Was the snood RED ?????
What a Chilul Hashem we are doing if a goy can comment on here, they see everything we do, NOT ONLY in Walmart, or Target etc…!
women look like they are in pajamas when they wear snoods. it's just inappropriate. nothing to do with tznius. you wouldn't go out in your bath robe, even if it covered your entire body perfectly, because it's inappropriate.
in Forest Park they do.
vus tit an urel af inzere hailege vebsite?
Enough already! I think wearing a robe in public (even in a complex, a neighborhood like Forest Park, or just your own street – to an outsider it is a public street.) is like wearing pajamas in public. A snood is not in that category at all. It is a tsniudik head covering if it covers all your hair. I wear one all the time and I would not wear a robe out of my house. (I usually don't even wear one at the Shabbos table, l'chvod Shabbos either, because it is casual wear, not dressy)
I hold (not my own opinion, but, one that many greater than I hold) that sheitels are potentially ossur. Sheitel wearers – do what you want but, don't try to impose your narrow minded view point on those who do otherwise.
maybe you can be dan lekaf zechus i am someone who doesnt have a sheitel to wear im in the process of buying a new one should i not go out to the store at all??
The initial letter writer must be a sheitel macher! How else can she make a parnasa if we wear snoods everyday?
I think sheitels are very ugly.
It's better to put a snood or a hat or whatever other head-covering is available.
In response to those who can not understand why some of us choose b'shita not to wear shaitlach, here is an article posted on another website (YWN) on Nov. 4, 2008:
Maran HaRav Yosef Sholom Elyashiv Shlita had some very harsh words regarding today’s sheitels, stating the women who wear them today are as if they go outdoor bareheaded.
The statements were made last week during the Rav’s daily Gemara Shabbos shiur the weekly Belze-affiliated BaKehilla reported.
The Rav is quoted as saying there are permitted sheitels and those that are asur, but today’s are strictly forbidden. He called “today’s” sheitels “erva”, stating they are absolutely forbidden.
A participant in the shiur asked Rav Elyashiv how they wore human hair wigs in the time of the Gemara, to which he responded the wigs of those days were different, with the best at that time being comparable perhaps to today’s worst, adding today’s human hair wigs represent “erva” and are absolutely forbidden.
The Rav repeated over and over again the severity of the isur of wearing such sheitels, which the wife and her husband share equal responsibility.
The shiur may be heard on Kol HaLashon, 03-617-1111 by following the menu “Yiddish”, “Gemara”, “Halacha”, “Shiur Maran Elyashiv”, “Meseches Shabbos”, “Shiur 174”. The statements regarding sheitels appear 25 minutes into the shiur.
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I personally have not worn a shaitel for over ten years, and I have never regretted that decision.
My husband & I felt that the tznius level of shaitlach was quickly deteriorating and we did not want to get pulled down.
I now wear snoods and occassionally hats and I have never felt that I was less well-dressed than those around me wearing shaitlach.
I can't wait to leave this backwards town
"I can't wait to leave this backwards town"
why? because people are for or against sheitels???
why does everyone believe that whatever someone writes is true. I do not believe the "goyim" is a goy. he is some bored nutcase. the letter writer is a man, who enjoys looking at ladies and a sheitel is more appealing than a snood. thats it.