[Avodah] More on Married Women Should Not Wear Wigs

[Prof. Levine]

This week's Jewish Press contains a letter to the editor by Rabbi Gil 
Student in response to the woman who wrote that she felt it was not 
appropriate for a married woman to wear a wig that was more beautiful 
than her hair. See http://www.jewishpress.com/pageroute.do/49986/

In addition, the editor, Rachel,  of the column in which her letter 
appeared also write a response.  See 
http://www.jewishpress.com/pageroute.do/50008/

Rabbi Gil student writes in part

R. Moshe Feinstein responds to the maris ayin argument in multiple 
ways: (1) A woman covering her hair is not a prohibition but an 
obligation, for which we are more lenient; (2) someone, even if not 
everyone, can almost always tell when a woman is wearing a wig; and 
(3) people in our community know that women often cover their hair with wigs.

On the other hand, Rachel points out " ... it may be of interest to 
you and other young readers to know that many of us can still recall 
a time in the not-too-distant (relatively speaking) past when 
human-hair wigs were almost unheard of, when wigs were mostly made of 
a synthetic fiber and were easily recognized as - well, wigs. That 
would partially explain why renown and respected community leaders 
(some no longer with us) sanctioned the wearing of wigs for married women.

"It is highly unlikely that these rabbis, in their endorsement, 
envisioned the knockout versions that many of today's young brides 
find hard to resist.

<Snip>

"Though the trend doesn't show any signs of diminishing, plenty of 
rabbis have spoken out against it, with similar arguments to yours. 
To be fair, mention must be made of the communities where women have 
heeded their leader's call to dispense with the human hair wigs and 
wear only the synthetic kind, and of the many married women sporting 
stylish kerchiefs, hats or wide headbands on top of their wigs, meant 
to act as a constant reminder (to the wearer) of her married status."

I can only wonder what Rav Feinstein, zt"l, would say about 
permitting a married woman to wear a human hair wig that is virtually 
impossible to tell is a wig and that is more beautiful and attractive 
than the woman's natural hair.

YL

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