Why do Orthodox Jews shave their heads? Orthodox Jews. Religion, customs of Jews Jewish women shave their hair under a wig

, Headdress

Shalom, dear Rav Yakov Shub! I saw your answer about hair extensions instead of a wig for a woman. I understand that there is a permission (or even, as I understand it, a command) in Halacha for a woman to wear a wig. But personally, I can’t agree and accept in my heart this kind of head covering. My wife, Baruch Hashem, is a modest woman and wears a headdress covering her hair. The problem is when, with the new “peaks” of fashion in orthodox communities, wigs are getting prettier and prettier, longer and lighter, and, very importantly, cost a lot of money (it’s not for me to go into someone else’s pocket, but many women buy them because they need to) . I am a little over 26 years old, and, as they say, I am in the process of working on "the direction of my eyes." But even when I turn away from the immodestly dressed woman, as if automatically, to the “kosher-dressed”, I see a woman whose wig very much, to be honest, attracts my attention and keeps it on this person, sometimes to evaluate kosher high-heeled shoes and a very modest skirt just above the knee. I am telling the truth, because for me, a person who gives (as Rav Kushnir correctly put it in his lectures on shlom-bayt - family world) all the energy to his home, this greatly hinders me. And this is no exception lately - the Bait va-Gan and Ar-Nof districts in Jerusalem are full of such fashionistas. What should I do? Where to look?

Rav Yakov Shub answers

Thank you very much for your sincere question. In fact, the problem you are raising concerns not only you, but the entire religious community. Leading rabbis of our generation, speaking at various levels, condemn the penetration into our society of trends that are alien to traditional Jewish values. These trends, unfortunately, primarily negatively affect the state of the Jewish family and the observance of the laws of modesty, which, in turn, are a fundamental factor in family well-being. Recently, in accordance with the opinion of the leading rabbis of our generation, clear rules for modest dress have been developed. Mishmar HaTorah reflecting the specifics of modern women's clothing. In addition, we know from our teachers that, in addition to establishing clear boundaries, it is also necessary to create a special family atmosphere that emphasizes the dignity of a Jewish woman. Such an atmosphere will eventually naturally lead to the observance of the laws of modesty.

Unfortunately, it is not always in our power to immediately solve all problems. Therefore, each person should understand what exactly he can do to improve the current situation. As you know, censure and condemnation of other people often leads to the opposite effect: quarrels and other negative consequences. Our sages teach that sometimes it is even forbidden to "say words that will not be heard." Therefore, it is more expedient, as you rightly put it, to “give energy to your home” and concentrate on our relatives and friends, whom we are able to influence and instill in them a correct understanding of Jewish modesty.

Most of us, unfortunately, did not get to grow up in traditional religious families, so in order to understand how to properly develop modesty in ourselves and loved ones, it is not always enough to rely on our own opinion. It is essential that the family has contact with a rabbi with whom such topics can be discussed in person. In addition, it is very important to “be in touch” with religious families, where you can, for example, come to visit for a Shabbat meal and just chat in an informal setting. Very often, the concepts of modesty and family values ​​are a kind of "Oral Torah", which cannot always be learned from books.

Many religions of the world are especially demanding for a person to observe modesty in dress and behavior. So for Muslims, wearing a hijab is not an attempt to somehow stand out from the background of non-believers. This is just a need for modesty of a truly religious person, who puts faith in the first place in his life, and not some external paraphernalia.

Depending on religious dogmas, this requirement of modesty may take more or less severe forms. In Judaism, there is a special law that regulates the norms of behavior for a Jewish woman. It is called zniut (or zniyut). According to this law, a woman is obliged not only to wear a headdress, but to completely hide her hair under a scarf (quiet).

Why do some Jews shave their heads?

The most radical offshoots in Judaism are very demanding on the appearance of women. Even one's own wife or daughter should not distract a Jew with her inappropriate appearance when he reads the Torah or says a prayer. This means that she is obliged to hide her body and hair not only on the street, but also directly in her house.

In Judaism, women's hair is considered a temptation that distracts a man's thoughts from God and directs them into a sinful direction. Loose hair violates all the laws of zniut. Even a strand or a single hair that has come out from under the scarf is considered immodest and provocative. In order not to plunge their husbands into sin, some true Jews shave their heads baldly. This is customary among the wives of the Toldot Aaron Hasidim and some other orthodox groups.

Hasidic spouses not only shave their skulls, but also cover them with a scarf on top. This part of the Jewish population has particularly harsh laws. Hasidim call themselves "pious" (the word itself is translated as "pious"), strictly observe the laws adopted several thousand years ago and are not going to make any concessions for the sake of modern fashion.

Other Rules for the Wife of a Hasid

In addition to having to shave their heads and cover their heads with a headscarf, women from this group of Jews have to completely hide their bodies. They are not allowed to wear dresses that open their calves, even if they have thick stockings on their legs. Showing your knees is the height of debauchery for a Jew. For such behavior, a woman can suffer the most severe punishment, be spat upon and beaten.

Hasidim are extremely intolerant of liberties in clothing. Even an inappropriately dressed 8-year-old girl can be subjected to public censure, and her mother, who does not follow the piety of her daughter, even more so. Some Orthodox Jewish groups even wear the niqab. These are long black shawls in which a woman wraps herself completely, including her hands, face and eyes. Such strictness in observing modesty is not accepted even among Muslims.

The message Why do Jews shave their heads first appeared on Umnaya.

Wig production is a flourishing branch of the world business, feeding on movie stars, fashion models, beauties-loafers and ... Jewish women who keep the commandments of the Torah. What is the source of this unexpected connection? What are the benefits of a wig? And at the same time - a few practical tips imbued.

N., a young mother of three children, fulfills more and more Torah commandments every day. She already observes the Sabbath, kashered the kitchen, transferred her children to a Jewish school. She is confident that she is moving in the right direction. The new way of life fills her with happiness and satisfaction. She is ready to start fulfilling other commandments. And only one thing she is not ready yet - to start covering her hair.

N. is not alone. Many women who are drawn to the Jewish way of life, joyfully fulfilling the commandments of the Torah, cannot decide to start covering their heads. Perhaps - because we are talking about a sharp external change. Or because hair is really the main element of female beauty. One way or another, this difficulty shows how much power lies in women's hair. No wonder the Torah requires a married woman to cover them in the same way as she covers other intimate parts of the body.

Why hair?

The Torah's requirement to cover her hair is derived from the story of "sota" - a woman who has gone astray. A woman suspected of cheating on her husband, among other things, had her headscarf removed from her hair in the Temple. From this it is clear that initially the hair of a married woman should be covered, and their exposure is a shame.

Jewish law states that a married woman's hair must be covered completely. If she exposes even a small part of them, the husband has the right to divorce her without paying what is due to her under the marriage contract.

And why cover them?

First of all, we fulfill the commandments of the Torah, not because they have a rational explanation, but because it is the order of the Almighty. Like a soldier who cannot know the true purpose of a military operation. And any rational explanation will be only part of the truth. But let's take a look at some of them.

A married woman should not become an object of desire for strangers and cause debauchery (even mental). And since hair, according to the Torah, is the most important element of female beauty, it should be covered in front of strangers.

Another purpose of the head covering is the outward difference between a married woman and an unmarried woman, as well as a Jewish woman from a non-Jewish woman.

History and fashion

In Sephardic communities, it was customary to cover the head with a scarf, and on top with a veil, so that the hair was not visible at all. In Ashkenazi communities, over time, in addition to scarves, wigs appeared. Expensive natural wigs were available to few, and artificial wigs were quite crude, and were assembled into a permanent hairstyle that could not be changed. They were used as a head covering and a hat, under which a scarf was worn - to completely cover the hair. In our time, natural wigs have become widespread, and most artificial wigs can no longer be distinguished from natural ones.

Fashion and customs

Have you ever been to a women's headwear store? That's where the eyes run! Hats sewn, knitted and felted; berets, turbans, wide-brimmed, small, round, scarves, scarves… Patterned and smooth. Decorated with feathers, buttons, rhinestones, embroidery. Weekday and evening.

And in the wig salon! You can choose a very inexpensive nylon, with a ready-made haircut. At first, it looks very good, and the haircut can be immediately appreciated, but very soon it will become worthless. Such wigs are most often bought to be worn under a hat, since their wear is not evident in this way.

Mixed, natural-synthetic wig, you will have to cut it on you after purchase. It is a little more expensive, but also lasts longer. Usually such wigs are worn by older ladies who prefer a tough hairstyle - a short haircut with a curl or styled long hair.

Natural wigs are divided into two types: from cheaper hard Asian hair and from soft European ones. The first ones are already good enough to satisfy the needs of most fashionistas, and at the same time affordable. The latter are often made to order and are quite expensive.

The choice of headgear depends not only on the wallet and aesthetic preferences, but also on the traditions of the community to which the woman belongs. Most Sephardic communities do not wear wigs. For Ashkenazi women, the wig is the most common form of hair covering, though not the only one. In Lithuanian communities, not all rabbis approve of wearing wigs, and among the Hasidim there are a variety of traditions: only a wig, a wig with a cap, a wig with a bangs with a cap, a wig with a wide ribbon, a turban, a simple scarf, a scarf with a magnificent knot-bow on the side. In some communities, it is mandatory for married women to shave their heads and cover them with a simple, close-fitting headscarf, while in others they wear a two-layer head covering, such as a headscarf and cap or a lined turban.

The wig controversy

In the Jewish world, there are no two opinions about the need for a married woman to cover her head. But there is a heated debate around wigs.

Some rabbis believe that a wig is not suitable as a hair covering: firstly, not everyone can distinguish a good wig from natural hair, and secondly, most wigs look much better than natural hair. Others argue that a wig is a complete hair covering, since there is no prohibition for a woman to be beautiful, but only a prohibition to show her own hair. With the role of covering the hair, the wig copes better than any scarf or cap.

Opinion of the Lubavitcher Rebbe

It is derived from Jewish law and unequivocally: only a wig can be a full-fledged head covering. The Rebbe urges women not to leave the house in any headdress, except for a wig, because, whether a woman wants it or not, even a little hair sticks out from under the most modest headscarf or cap. An additional argument in favor of a wig is that if a strand of hair nevertheless breaks out from under it, the woman will immediately rush to remove it, and even more so, will not leave it consciously.

In addition, a woman will not hesitate to appear in a wig, anywhere, which cannot be said about a scarf. The Rebbe encourages women to wear beautiful wigs so that those who do not yet cover their heads will have a desire to follow their example.

One woman, who covered her head with a wig and cap so that absolutely all her hair was covered, asked the Lubavitcher Rebbe if she could continue to cover her head in this way. "A woman's wig," the Rebbe replied, "is a blessing in her home. Do you want half the blessing?"

The right remedy

There is a story in the Talmud about a woman named Kimchit, whose seven sons, one by one, became high priests in the Temple. When asked what is the secret of her teaching success, Kimhit replied, "Even the walls of my house have never seen a single hair of mine!"

The holy book "Zohar", the main source of Kabbalistic knowledge, is very strict about carelessly covered hair and promises many blessings to women whose hair is carefully covered even at home - a blessing in raising children, prosperity, success in all undertakings...

I am a wig designer...

Interview with Teila Gindi, owner of a prestigious wig salon

- Where do fashion trends come from in the world of wigs?

Nowadays, when everyone knows everything about everyone, this is not a problem. The trends are about the same all over the world, both in the field of hairdressing and in the field of wig design. Women often come to me who want to have a wig that looks like a hairstyle, for example, of a famous actress or TV presenter.

How often should you change your wig?

It mostly depends on the wallet. Some women buy a wig once a year, others - once every three years, others tint the old one or replace and add part of the hair.

What case from practice do you remember the most?

A woman who had lost her hair from chemotherapy came to me to buy a wig. Time passed, and the woman fully recovered. To thank the Almighty for the miraculous salvation, she decided to continue wearing the wig after her own hair was re-growth. Today, this woman fully fulfills the commandments of the Torah.

What advice would you give to a woman who has decided to start covering her hair?

To begin with, it is best to purchase a wig that is as close as possible in color and texture to the hair. So it will be easier for a woman to get used to the wig and avoid the violent reaction of others. Later, when wearing a wig becomes a habit, you can play with color, style, length…

- Is it possible to use the services of an ordinary hairdresser to design and care for a wig?

In principle, this is possible. But you need to remember that the wig will not grow back after an unsuccessful haircut. In wig design, non-professionals are less likely to be retained than in hairdressing. You need to know how to wash a wig so that it does not go bald ahead of time, how to care for it so that the hair does not split or fade.

- What do you, as a designer of wigs, see their advantage over other ways of covering hair?

For many women who decide to cover their heads for the first time, it is much easier to do this with a wig, without attracting undue attention to themselves, as would be the case with a scarf or hat.

Some tips for caring for your wig

If the wig is dull and frayed quickly, then it's time to wash it.

Wet the wig under running water, distribute the shampoo evenly through the hair, combing it with your fingers from roots to ends. Rinse off the shampoo under running water. Apply conditioner to the wig, combing it with your fingers from roots to ends in the same way. Try not to get the conditioner directly on the roots, that is, on the knots that attach the hair to the base. Leave the conditioner on for 10-15 minutes, and if possible, overnight. Wash off with running water.

Wrap the washed wig in a towel and pat dry. If the wig is wavy or curly, leave it to dry naturally. If smooth - dry with a hair dryer, after drying the base (wrong side) without a hair dryer.

Once in several such baths (as needed), you can soak the wig in a hair mask.

Comb the wig carefully, first the lower strands, then the upper ones, so as not to pull out the hair.

It is best to store the wig on a mannequin so that it does not lose its correct shape.

Not only that there are quite a lot of different religions and beliefs in the world, but they all have also various branches. In this article, I would like to understand in detail who the Orthodox Jews are and what is the peculiarity of their way of life and beliefs.

Who are they?

Initially, it must be said that Jews are different. Even though they all profess Judaism. So, there are ordinary people who raise children according to social, not religious canons. They dress in fashion and do not zealously observe all the rites and traditions of their great-grandfathers. However, there is another category. These are Orthodox Jews. Their life is subject to all the laws of Halakha, which were formed a very long time ago, in the period of the New Age.

Religion of Orthodox Jews

Initially, it should be noted that the religion of the Jews is Judaism. However, everything is not so simple here. In the modern world, there are five main branches of Judaism: humanistic (least strict), reformist, reconstructionist, conservative and orthodox.

Important Books for the Orthodox

The religion of the Jews is Judaism. What kind of religious books do these people have? First of all, we need to talk about the holy scripture, which is called the Tanakh. Let's consider its components:

1. Torah, or "Pentateuch".
2. Neviim, 21 books about the prophets.
3. Katuvim. These are 13 books of various religious genres.

Another very important book for Orthodox Jews is the Talmud. This is a set of laws, as well as moral and ethical standards, which believers must strictly follow.

Offshoot: ultra-Orthodox

It is important to note that there is such a widespread trend today as ultra-Orthodox Jews. In Judaism, this direction is known to everyone as Hasidism. This trend originates in the 18th century. Religion here is closely connected with mysticism, exaltation. The main ideas of the Hasidim are as follows:

• God is everywhere and always. You must serve him every minute, in big and small matters.
• Serve God only in joy.
• Any sin can be redeemed.

Daily prayer is very important for Hasidim. It is pronounced in high spirits. Its goal is to have the closest possible communion with God.

Among the traditional occupations of the Hasidim, one can single out the construction business (real estate), trade, the financial market, and mediation. Quite often, Hasidim are engaged in diamonds. These are quite rich people who run the world.

A little about God

It is also worth mentioning that even four millennia ago, Jews also believed in many gods, like the rest of the people on Earth. But still, each clan worshiped one, in their opinion, the most powerful deity. And in one community the chief was Yahweh. It was this cult that gradually came to the fore and occupied a leading position according to the number of adherents.

A completely new stage in Judaism is associated with the appearance of such a person as Moses. Scientists are sure that this may indeed be a once-living person, whose main merit is the removal of the Jews from Egyptian slavery. It is also important to note that the very first books of the Torah are called the "Pentateuch of Moses", which once again proves the greatness of this person in the Jewish religion.

So the god of the Jews is Yahweh. However, there is another, somewhat transformed name, which is most often used in European countries. This is Jehovah.

Appearance

Orthodox Jews believe that they must strictly follow not only the Holy Scripture - the Torah, but also many of the rites of their ancestors, who lived during the heyday of Judaism in the Commonwealth in the 14-17 centuries. That is why the appearance of these people is often very strange, according to the opinion of modern man.

Adherents of this particular trend in Judaism wear clothes of only two colors - white and black (this also applies to underwear). In this case, a hat must be on the head. On holidays, the Orthodox wear fur hats, which are of two types:

1. Spodaki. Made from beaver fur, high. Definitely black.
2. Shtreimly. Flat caps in sable fur.

Their caftans have different variations. They can be of different lengths. The color can be either just black or white striped (such clothes are worn mainly for the holidays, along with a special white hat with a pompom).

What other clothes are there for Orthodox Jews? So, there is one very interesting secondary religious sign of such people - these are tassels that stick out from under their clothes. It is they who are an obligatory attribute of tales (a special matter that can either cover the entire body of a person during prayer, or be part of underwear). The main purpose of these brushes is written in the Torah. Looking out from under the clothes, they should remind of God and that he must be served every minute.

Hairstyle

Orthodox Jews also have a special hairstyle. And to be more precise - curls that either hang down to the shoulders, or are laid behind the ears. They are called paces. Far from all representatives of Judaism wear such hairstyles, but only those who are zealous about the following commandment of the Torah: “Do not round the edges of your hair and do not cut your beard ...”

It is worth noting that there are a huge number of interpretations of this commandment. However, Orthodox Jews take it as literally as possible. Which leads to the appearance of sidelocks and long beards.

Nutrition

The whole life of Orthodox Jews is subject to the writings of the Torah. The same applies to nutrition rules. What can be eaten, and what cannot be eaten by such people?

• Kosher, i.e. allowed is the meat of ruminant artiodactyls, as well as mammals. Orthodox Jews may consume the meat of sheep, cow, bison, elk, etc.
• It is impossible for such people to eat the meat of rabbits, hares, pigs, horses.
• Kosher bird species: chicken, duck, goose, dove, quail.
• The Torah forbids the consumption of animal blood in any form. To get rid of it, there are two procedures: salting and frying.
• Also, Orthodox Jews have a strict ban on mixing dairy and meat foods. After eating meat, it is necessary to withstand at least 6 hours, and only then eat dairy foods.
• You can also eat fish, but not all, but one that has fins and scales.
• The eggs of kosher birds are kosher.

A few words about women

What are they, Orthodox Jewish women? Initially, it must be said that after marriage, such ladies cut their hair as short as possible or even shave their heads bald. This tradition has come since the Middle Ages, when in this way women protected themselves from the encroachments of men. But even today it has not lost its relevance among the Orthodox.

Married ladies should also be faithful to their husbands. Indeed, among the Orthodox, a child not born of a husband is a terrible sin, a stain on the family. Then he will not be able to live normally: study, get married or get married. If the baby is born to an unmarried girl, he will be an ordinary Jew.

Regarding the role of women, the orthodox adhere to old-fashioned rules. So, the area of ​​activity of the wife is the family, home, children, comfort. Everything else is for men. However, a woman in this religion has never been the property of her husband. It has a wide range of rights and freedoms. In a certain sense, a woman is even revered, worshiped. However, only within the walls of his house.

It should also be noted that Orthodox Jews are not near women in public places: buses, hairdressers, etc. In addition, they try not to walk on one side of the street.

Traditions and rituals

What customs do Orthodox Jews observe? What is interesting about their beliefs?

• First of all, we need to talk about circumcision. So, this procedure involves circumcision of the foreskin of the male genital organ in an infant (on the eighth day from birth). It is believed that this is a kind of covenant between the people of Israel and God.
• Orthodox Jews must wear a kippah (hat) throughout the day. This is a special sign of respect for God.
• Before reading the morning prayer, representatives of the orthodox movement must put on a tallit (veil).
• Kapparot is a tradition of atonement for one's sins. It is made on the eve of Yom Kippur. A man or woman should take a live rooster in their hands and twist it around their head, saying: "Let this be my atonement."

Simple Conclusions

The God of the Jews, Yahweh, told his disciples to know and honor the Torah. This is exactly what the followers of this trend are doing. For the most part, they are learning. Men go to work only in adulthood. In their youth and even the first couple of years of marriage, such men devote all their time to learning. That is why this trend among the Jews is not too favored. After all, taxpayers' money goes to the maintenance of such families (where often men, and women, of course, do not work). And the Orthodox, in turn, are sure that the rest of the Jews do not adhere to the sacred laws of the Torah.

“Pretty will deceive, beauty will leave, but the glory of a God-fearing woman will remain,”- written in the book of Proverbs of Solomon (31:10). In the Tanakh, Mishnah, the writings of the sages praise modesty as the main virtue of a Jewish woman. Does this mean that a religious woman should not strive for beauty? We talked about this with Khaya-Beila Kogan, who helps the women of the Moscow community become more charming and attractive..

-Haya Beyla, wigs for religious Jews is a rather specific industry. Why did you decide to do this?

Usually, good ideas come after some difficulties that need to be overcome. I had to think about earning money very early: at the age of five my mother left me, I still have not seen her, and at sixteen my father died. However, I went through good "preparatory courses" in my father's farm near Yekaterinburg. My father was a talented entrepreneur: he founded a farm from scratch, cultivated fields where vegetables and wheat were grown, opened a restaurant and three shops. The restaurant received meat and fresh vegetables from its own agricultural production. One summer, I liked very beautiful sandals in the market, I was 11 years old, I asked my dad for money. “If you want money, learn how to earn it!", - he said.

Dad always said: "You only need to work for yourself." He was one of the wealthiest people in the region, but he taught us to work and earn for ourselves. During the summer holidays at 11, I started working in his own household on an equal footing with other people he hired. She started by washing the floors in the store, then at the packaging, after that at the checkout, and also dealt with purchases for the store. Then I went to the restaurant and there I also went up from the very bottom: I sorted and peeled potatoes, washed the floors, cut salads, until my dad taught me how to cook hot. By the age of 14, I was running his restaurant and shop. True, with such a schedule, I rarely went to school.

And my dad taught me to steal ... Calm down - nothing criminal! He taught me to adopt and absorb, like a sponge, everything useful from people - their knowledge, skills, skills - this is what he called "theft". When dad noticed how much I love everything related to beauty, he brought me to one of the most successful salons in Yekaterinburg, introduced me to the masters and said: “Learn, steal their skill with your eyes!»

But now I was left alone, and it so happened that I didn’t get anything from my father’s property. His inheritance passed to other, more legally savvy relatives. “Father achieved everything himself, and I will do the same!” I said to myself. I was confident that I could feed myself. First I did manicures, makeup and hair. I have always liked helping women become beautiful and I dreamed of opening my own beauty salon.

– The "beauty industry" is very extensive. Why wigs?

I started doing wigs after we got married. I got married in the "crisis" year of 2009, according to the Jewish calendar - 5769. Just between our engagement and the wedding there was a "blessing of the sun" - Birkat Hama, which happens once every 28 years. I think it has brought an extra blessing to both our family and my business.

At that time, it was very difficult to buy a beautiful wig in Moscow. It was possible to figure out the girl in the wig from afar - they looked so poor-quality and “doll-like”. And here you can say “accidentally” (in fact, nothing happens by chance in our life), I met a man who was engaged in wigs in Israel. At first, it seemed to me, he did not even take me seriously - what kind of business can a 20-year-old girl get? Nevertheless, he decided to try to work everything with me, for which I am very grateful to him. I did it - sales went. Then I realized that I wanted to run a business independently of anyone, determine my own pricing policy and make purchases.

I contacted the suppliers, and then the peaniyot themselves (women who sew wigs), began to buy hair and develop sales in Moscow. At first, of course, I made mistakes, but I corrected them myself. In the course of work, I learned to distinguish high-quality products from low-quality products, I began to understand different types of hair and tailoring technologies.

As a result, clients themselves reached out to me. Among them there are those who buy from me for the second or third wig. When a customer comes back to you again and again, it means that he likes the product.

-Have you kept the commandments since childhood?

No, since the time when dad died. Of course, Bukharian Jews respect traditions. So dad on Friday evening put osvo (Bukhara cholent) on the stove, I lit candles, my four brothers and sister sat down at the table, sang Shabbat songs, made kiddush, had a meal, read the blessing after it and ... went to watch the news on TV . Now I understand the comic and wrongness of what is happening, but then it seemed like a normal state of affairs. Although we did not observe Shabbat and the holidays in full, I knew about them since childhood. When dad left, I began to observe everything, fulfilling every commandment in the name of the upliftment of his soul.

My father really wanted me to create a religious family, give birth to many grandchildren for him, but there were no Jewish schools nearby. Since he was a farmer, we could not move to the city, and I had to study at an ordinary rural school for the first years. Dad did not allow me to talk not only with boys, but also with girls, because he was afraid that the village young ladies would teach me bad things. At first I suffered from a lack of communication, but then it turned out that he was not afraid in vain - the customs in that village were terrible.

Later, my father sent me to the Or Avner Jewish school in Yekaterinburg. My five brothers and I had to get up every day at 6 am in order to have time to get to the city in time for the start of classes ... Dad wanted to give me a more serious education. But at Or Avner, boys and girls studied together and dressed as they pleased. This did not suit him, and he sent me to Moscow - to the school "Beit Yehudit" under the direction of Rivka Weiss. She also influenced me a lot. The Rebbetzin always appreciated good taste, both at home and in appearance, decorated the rooms with vases of flowers and always told her students how important it was to take care of themselves. I won't forget how she once said: “If a woman does not automatically fix her wig when leaving the house, she is not okay!» . She brought such scrupulousness in relation to appearance from the family - she herself comes from Antwerp. Her daughters and daughters-in-law also always look very beautiful, expensive, tasteful and at the same time very modest!

Why are wigs so expensive?

There are also relatively cheap ones. But, in general, you are right - a good wig is quite expensive due to the rather complicated production. The price of a wig is influenced mainly by several factors. Firstly, it is a “skin”, that is, an imitation of the scalp. This part is done entirely by hand, each hair is sewn separately. A centimeter of this work is very expensive, respectively, the more your "skin", the more expensive the wig. Now about the hair… Quality, unprocessed hair is very, very expensive. My dear girls, here I will tell you a secret: the fact that the hair is natural does not mean that it is human. Many companies make wigs from horse tails and manes. There are even separate farms where animals are raised specifically for sale. Of course, these “hairs” are processed, so it is very difficult to distinguish them from human ones. Therefore, when buying a wig, ask not about the naturalness of the hair, but about its origin.

And it happens that the hair is both natural and human, but only sheared not from a living person, but from a dead person. In this case, the wig also turns out to be cheap, since the dead, as a rule, do not ask for much money.

-Horror!

I'm sorry I had to shock you. In my opinion, in order for a woman to feel beautiful, it is worth paying, as well as for jewelry, for beautiful clothes. In fact, these are the bricks from which shlom-bait is built - peace in the family.

If you have found your wig, then it becomes part of you. New wig, new look. Think that you have to walk all day with this hair, negotiate with this hairstyle, go to weddings, spend Shabbat in it. And most importantly - you will please your husband not only because you are beautiful, but also because you feel confident and just fine. Husbands feel it, it makes him even happier and more in love! And the people around you will perceive you accordingly. Don't skimp on these things.

-So, the more expensive the wig, the better it is?

Not always. Sometimes a high price is formed due to a well-known brand. If the wig is simply sewn by an Israeli or American peanite, the price is average, the Chinese "creativity" is much cheaper. Once I tried to buy myself an inexpensive wig and was very disappointed. This is comparable to buying a fake of an expensive brand on the market ...

Anyone who understands wigs immediately sees the difference. I can determine the approximate prices even of those wigs that I do not hold in my hands, but I see on the heads of women passing by me. The difference is not only in the density, beauty and origin of the hair, but also in the quality and service life of the wig. I am confident in my wigs, so I give a guarantee for a year. Even if on the last day of the guarantee they bring me a wig and say that it has changed color or a lot of hair has fallen out, I will send it for repair at my own expense. I really want to help everyone who wants to have a good quality wig, but as we said above, it's not cheap, so I have an installment system from three months to half a year. In addition, I make discounts for regular customers and brides.

Does the styling of a wig have to be something special?

The same thing - you have to pay for quality. In Moscow, many girls know how to style wigs, some do it for a very small fee. But when I was looking for someone to work with, I wanted to find a professional. And I found such a person. My partner, Rahel Manuylova, studied at special courses for hairdressers-stylists, after which she studied with the Israeli “peanites” with whom I work. For those who style her wig, I give a guarantee, because I am sure that everything is done correctly. Here, special care is needed, since the hair does not receive vitamins and nutrients from the inside.

Rachel's services are not the cheapest, but they are worth it. She does everything with the highest quality and beauty!

- What's the problem with Indian wigs? Why are they banned?

This is not an easy problem. In general, soft, thin and beautiful hair is brought from India. However, it turned out that in some Indian cults it is customary to sacrifice women's hair to local deities, and then sell it at a low price and give money to maintain pagan temples. Jews are strictly forbidden to receive any benefit from idolatry, respectively - and to wear such wigs. However, according to one of the opinions, this is allowed.

-Difficult to find the right wig?

Giving advice, choosing the right wig is an important part of my job. My goal is to make a girl beautiful. You can, of course, just lay out the goods and tell the buyer: “look - choose”, but this is not professional. The buyer is looking for help. You can go to the hairdresser, tell how to cut your hair - and the hairdresser will do everything in accordance with your wishes, or you can go to the stylist who will determine what image you have and choose a hairstyle for him - that's why he is a professional.

In my business, it is absolutely necessary to give a client advice in choosing - after all, a woman spends a lot of money, she does not want to make a mistake at all. If I see that the client has doubts about the purchase, I advise you to wait for a new batch. Then together we can find exactly what she needs. It happens that we are looking for a suitable image for a whole year. If, as a result, the customer leaves satisfied, then my work is not in vain, and I also feel happy.

-There is an opinion that wearing chic wigs is immodest.

Such girls are not among my clients. Everyone follows the traditions of their community. I can only express my opinion on this matter. Of course, a Jewish girl should be modest. Sometimes it seems that you need to wrap yourself in several scarves. Meanwhile, to behave modestly means not to stand out. Who are you more likely to notice on the street - a girl in a hijab or a wig? I always pay attention to the first. We must not draw too much attention to ourselves. This is what modesty is all about, tsniyut. In addition, now we are in galut, where it is not worth walking in headscarves in the evenings.

Modesty does not contradict beauty. A Jewish woman must be beautiful, she is the face of Israel, a representative of the people. What good is it if a religious Jewish woman looks untidy. And if a woman who has three, four, five children takes care of herself and looks great, she sanctifies the Name of the Almighty with her very appearance.

-Now more women are interested in wigs?

Certainly. More and more Jews are returning to the faith, more married women are covering their heads. I repeat: it is very important that observant women remain beautiful. People should see that the observance of the commandments of the Torah does not disfigure, but, on the contrary, decorates. I had a case when one poor girl got married and walked in a terrible artificial wig. I had just such a wig that would suit her. She couldn't afford to buy it, but it suited her so well that in honor of her impending wedding, I sold it at a loss.

What can you tell us about different technologies?lace front, baby hair?

Baby hair - hair sewn from the inside of a wig. Previously, the hair was sewn on top of the wig. The baby hair technology allows you to erase the border between the wig and the head and wear it without bangs. It looks natural and lasts a long time. In addition, it is very practical for those who love high hairstyles. Baby hair can be sewn onto any wig if you wish.

Lace front is a thin flesh-colored mesh on which hair is sewn, thanks to which the effect of growing hair is created. This is a more whimsical and expensive material. Using this technology, hair wears out faster, but it lasts for 2-3 years (if it is high-quality, and, accordingly, expensive work). After they are sewn up again. There are a lot of nuances here. The mesh should match the color of the skin, it must be cut correctly. Finishing the lace front is quite expensive, sometimes it's more profitable to buy a new wig.

-What are you dreaming about?

About much! Professionally, I would like to open a beauty club, a whole service to fully prepare women for the mikvah, making a childhood dream come true. Jews have a certain approach to beauty, their own laws. Services must be of the highest quality. This is a big command!

Interviewed by Stern Sarah Belkina

My name is Stern Sara, just like the wife of the Fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe. I would like to be the same wise, kind and feminine. Graduated from the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov (television journalism), studied at the magistracy as a philologist at the Russian State University for the Humanities. She managed to gain experience in various online and printed publications and on television, but in the last years before her marriage and moving to Israel, she worked for the benefit of the Moscow community, realizing that this work is of real benefit to the world. Having moved, I continue to write, I blog about tsniut and with author's thoughts about the Torah and the Jewish way of life, I collaborate with the Vaikra and monoteism.ru projects. I love studying, especially Hasidus, which give me vitality, fitness and snowboarding, which give me energy and, of course, writing, which allows me to express myself and create.