Ice
03-10-2019, 02:33 PM
Why Do Some Hasidic Women Shave Their Heads?
Hasidism comes with a pretty strict dress code. Men typically wear black pants, white shirts, and black jackets. They also often have long beards and curls on either side of their heads, called payot. For women, modesty is key, which means wearing long skirts and long sleeves and covering their hair with a scarf, hat, or wig, especially once they're married.
Hair-covering is common throughout Orthodox Judaism, but some Hasidic women take it a step further and shave their heads. In the Hasidic tradition, uncovered hair is similar to nudity — and, according to some Hasidic leaders, the only way to ensure modesty is for women to shave their heads altogether. (That way, a stray hair can't pop out of a wig; there's no hair to stray.) Some women report feeling violated by this tradition; others say they're cool with it; still others note that this isn't a universal practice, and some Hasidic women wear wigs without shaving their heads.
If you'd like to learn more about Hasidic Judaism, check out "Hasidism: A New History" by David Biale. We handpick reading recommendations we think you may like. If you choose to make a purchase, Curiosity will get a share of the sale.
Hasidic Traditions and Rules of Modesty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgnpSEfjOMg
Hasidism comes with a pretty strict dress code. Men typically wear black pants, white shirts, and black jackets. They also often have long beards and curls on either side of their heads, called payot. For women, modesty is key, which means wearing long skirts and long sleeves and covering their hair with a scarf, hat, or wig, especially once they're married.
Hair-covering is common throughout Orthodox Judaism, but some Hasidic women take it a step further and shave their heads. In the Hasidic tradition, uncovered hair is similar to nudity — and, according to some Hasidic leaders, the only way to ensure modesty is for women to shave their heads altogether. (That way, a stray hair can't pop out of a wig; there's no hair to stray.) Some women report feeling violated by this tradition; others say they're cool with it; still others note that this isn't a universal practice, and some Hasidic women wear wigs without shaving their heads.
If you'd like to learn more about Hasidic Judaism, check out "Hasidism: A New History" by David Biale. We handpick reading recommendations we think you may like. If you choose to make a purchase, Curiosity will get a share of the sale.
Hasidic Traditions and Rules of Modesty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgnpSEfjOMg