[Avodah] Women covering hair

[Micha Berger]

On Mon, Mar 09, 2009 at 07:06:27AM +0200, Michael Makovi wrote:
: The Aruch haShulhan ruled that since we are accustomed to seeing women's
: hair, it is no longer an impediment to the saying of Shema; but all
: the same, he ruled that uncovering the hair is still prohibited. But
: if people are used to seeing their hair, and it is no enticement (vis
: a vis Shema), then why is it still prohibited in the first place?

Because it's a gezeiras hakasuv from sotah. Bamidbar 5:18 assumes that
the sotah's hair is braided/covered, and thus needs uncovering as part
of the ceremony. See Bamidbar Rabba 9:16.

Wehn the norm is to follow the halakhah, then it's startling and
*consequently* sei'ar be'ishah ervah. IOW, the ervah is not the cause
of the issue, but an effect.

This also explains why sei'ar be'ishah ervah only applies to eishes
ish.

Also, it's easier in general to understand what's going on when you make
a point of noting when it speaks of lir'os and when the problem is
lehistakeil. Lehistakeil at a woman's little finger has a totally
different connotation than talking about seeing it.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

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