[Avodah] Rav Menashe Klein – Wearing Tefilin On A Toupee

[Prof. Levine]

 From http://revach.net/article.php?id=2654

If someone wears a toupee, must he take it off when putting on 
Tefilin Shel Rosh? The Tshuvas HaRashba (1:30), which is not in 
accordance with the other Rishonim, proves from the Yerushalmi that 
having a Chatzitza, a separation between your head and your Tefilin 
Shel Rosh, is not a problem.  It is only a problem by Tefilin Shel 
Yad.  However, says Rav Menashe Klein (Mishneh Halachos 6:8), that at 
best the Rashba only holds this B'Di'eved and even so he concedes 
that the Rishonim before him disagreed.  Furthermore, the Rashba says 
that his opinion is L'Halacha but not L'Maaseh.

Another possible heter says the Mishneh Halachos is a Pnei Aryeh (6) 
who says that if you put white powder in your hair, it is not a 
Chatzitza since it is for beauty, and anything put in the hair for 
aesthetic purposes in not a chatzitza.  Similarly, says Rav Menashe 
Klein, maybe a toupee, which is meant to enhance your appearance, is 
also not a chatzitza.  However he dismisses this argument saying that 
you cannot compare powder, which disappears and a toupee, which is very thick.

L'Maskana he says that the Shela HaKadosh holds that even if you put 
ashes in your hair for aveilus Zecher L'Churban, you must wash it off 
before putting on your tefilin.  The Machatzis HaShekel (OC 27:4) 
says that even excessively long hair is a Chatzitza.  Although some 
disagree with this Machazis HaShekel, says Rav Menashe Klein, 
certainly when it comes to a toupee, all would agree that it is a 
chatzitza.  If after explaining to someone the problem with a toupee 
for Tefilin the person insists on putting Tefilin on top of a toupee, 
he definitely shouldn't make a separate bracha on his tefilin shel rosh.
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