Why do women shave their heads. Are women's wigs modest? Essential Books for Orthodox

"Preciousness will deceive, beauty will go away, but the glory of a God-fearing woman will remain",- written in the book of Proverbs of Solomon (31:10). In 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 to become more charming and attractive..

-Haya-Beila, wigs for religious Jews are 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 making money very early: at the age of five my mother left me, I still had not seen her, and at sixteen my father died. However, I took good "preparatory courses" at my father's farm near Yekaterinburg. His father was a talented entrepreneur: he founded a farm from scratch, worked the fields on which they grew vegetables and wheat, opened a restaurant and three stores. The restaurant received meat and fresh vegetables from its own agricultural production. One summer in the market I liked very beautiful sandals, I was 11 years old, I asked my dad for money. “If you want money, learn to earn it!", - he said.

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

And dad also 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, and this is what he called “theft”. When dad noticed how 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 skills with your eyes!»

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

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

I took up wigs after the wedding. I got married in the “crisis” year 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 this has brought additional blessings to both our family and my business.

At that time, it was very difficult to buy a beautiful wig in Moscow. The girl in the wig could be spotted from afar - they looked so low-quality and "doll-like". And here we can say "by chance" (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 didn't even take me seriously - what kind of business could a 20-year-old girl have? 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 want to do business independently of anyone, to determine the pricing policy myself and to conduct purchases.

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

-Do you keep the commandments since childhood?

No, since the time when dad passed away. Of course, Bukharian Jews respect traditions. So dad on Friday night put osvost (Bukhara cholnt) on the stove, I lit candles, my four brothers and sister and I sat at the table, sang Saturday songs, did Kiddush, had a meal, read the blessing after it and ... went to watch the news on TV ... Now I understand the comic and incorrectness of what is happening, but then it seemed like a normal state of affairs. Although we did not observe Shabbat and holidays completely, I knew about them from childhood. When dad left, I began to observe everything, fulfilling every commandment in the name of the exaltation of his soul.

My father really wanted me to create a religious family, give birth to many grandchildren, but there were no Jewish schools nearby. Since he was a farmer, we could not move to the city, and I had to study in 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 girls 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 dad sent me to the Or Avner Jewish school in Yekaterinburg. My five brothers and I had to get up at 6 am every day in order to get to the city by the beginning of classes ... Dad wanted to give me a more serious education. But at Or Avner, boys and girls studied together and dressed as they wanted. This did not suit him, and he sent me to Moscow - to the Beit Yehudit school under the leadership of Rivka Weiss. She also greatly influenced me. Rebetsn always appreciated good taste, both at home and in appearance, decorated the rooms with vases of flowers and always told the students how important it was to take care of yourself. I will not forget how she once said: “If a woman doesn’t mechanically straighten her wig when she leaves the house, she’s not okay!» ... She brought such scrupulousness about appearance from a family - she herself is 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 mainly influenced 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, therefore, the larger your "skin", the more expensive the wig. Now about hair ... High-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 firms make wigs from horse tails and manes. There are even separate farms where animals are raised specifically for sale. Of course, these "hair" 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 it is only cut not from a living person, but from an already dead one. In this case, the wig also turns out to be cheap, since the deceased, as a rule, do not ask for much money.

-Horror!

Sorry to shock you. In my opinion, 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 the shlom-bait is built - peace in the family.

Once you find your wig, it becomes a part of you. A new wig is a new look. Think that you have to walk with this hair all day, negotiate with this hairstyle, go to weddings, spend Shabbat in it. And most importantly, you will delight your husband not only because you are a beauty, but also because you feel confident and just fine. Husbands feel it, it makes him even happier and in love! And the people around you will perceive you accordingly. You shouldn't skimp on such things.

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

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

Anyone who understands wigs will immediately see the difference. I can determine the approximate prices of even 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 thickness, 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 is not cheap, so I have a system of installments from three months to half a year. In addition, I give discounts to regular clients and brides.

-Does your wig have to be styled in a special way?

The same thing - you have to pay for quality. In Moscow, many girls know how to style wigs, some do 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, Rachel Manuylova, studied at special courses for hairdressers-stylists, after which she studied with the Israeli "peanit" with whom I work. For those who style her wig, I give a guarantee, because I am sure that everything is done correctly. Special care is needed here, 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 as efficiently and beautifully as possible!

-What is the problem with Indian wigs? Why are they forbidden to wear?

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, and accordingly - and to wear such wigs. However, according to one of the opinions, this is allowed.

-Difficult to find a suitable wig?

Giving advice, choosing the right wig is an important part of my job. My goal is to make the 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 waiting for help. You can go to a hairdresser, tell you how to cut your hair - and the hairdresser will do everything in accordance with your wishes, or you can go to a stylist who will determine what image you have and choose a hairstyle for it - that's why he is a professional.

In my business, it is absolutely necessary to give the client advice on the choice - after all, a woman spends a lot of money, she does not want to be mistaken 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 happy, then my work is not in vain, and I also feel happy.

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

These girls are not among my clients. Everyone follows the tradition of their community. I can only express my opinion on this matter. Of course, a Jewish girl should be humble. Sometimes it seems that you need to wrap yourself up in several shawls. Meanwhile, to behave modestly means not to stand out. Who do you most likely pay attention to on the street - a girl in a hijab or a wig? I always pay attention to the former. We shouldn't draw too much attention to ourselves. This is modesty, they appreciate it. In addition, now we are in galuta, where you should not wear 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 with three, four, five children looks after herself and looks great, she sanctifies the Name of the Almighty by her appearance.

- Are more women interested in wigs now?

Of course. More and more Jews are returning to the faith, more married women are covering their heads. Again, it is very important that observant women remain beautiful. People should see that keeping the commandments of the Torah does not disfigure, but, on the contrary, beautifies. I had a case when a poor girl got married and wore a terrible artificial wig. I had just such a wig that would fit her. She could not afford to buy, but it suited her so well that in honor of her upcoming wedding I sold it to myself 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. Baby hair technology allows you to erase the line between the wig and the head and wear it without bangs. And it looks natural and lasts a long time. Moreover, it is very practical for those who like high hairstyles. Baby hair can be tailored to any wig you want.

Lace front - a thin nude mesh on which the hair is sewn, thanks to which the effect of growing hair is created. This is more whimsical and expensive material. Using this technology, the hair wears out faster, but it is enough for 2-3 years (if it is of high quality, and, accordingly, expensive work). Then they are sewn together again. There are a lot of nuances here. The mesh should match the color of the skin, it should be properly cut. It is quite expensive to finish the lace front, sometimes it is more profitable to buy a new wig.

-What are you dreaming about?

About many things! Professionally, I would like to open a beauty club, a whole service for the complete preparation of women for mikvah, making my childhood dream come true. Jewish women have a certain approach to beauty, their own laws. Services must be provided with a particularly high quality. This is a great commandment!

Interviewed by Stern Sara Belkina

My name is Sterna Sara, like the wife of the Fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe. I would like to be as wise, kind and feminine. Graduated from the Faculty of Journalism of Moscow State University. M.V. Lomonosov (television journalism), studied in the magistracy in philology at the Russian State University for the Humanities. She managed to gain experience in various Internet and print 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 it was this work that brought real benefits to the world. Having moved, I continue to write, I blog about tsniyut and with the 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, giving vitality, fitness and snowboarding, giving energy and, of course, writing that allows me to express myself and create.

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

Depending on religious dogmas, this demand for modesty can take on more or less severe forms. In Judaism, there is a special law governing the norms of behavior of a Jewish woman. It is called tsniut (or tsniut). According to this law, a woman is obliged not only to wear a headdress, but to completely hide her hair under a scarf (quietly).

Why do some Jews shave their heads?

The most radical offshoots in Judaism are very demanding on the appearance of women. Even your own spouse 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 channel. Loose hair violates all the laws of zniut. Even a strand or a single hair that has got out from under the scarf is considered immodest and provocative.


In order not to plunge their husbands into sin, true Jews shave their heads bald. This is accepted by the wives of the Hasidim "Toldot Aaron" and some other orthodox groups. The Hasidic spouses not only shave their skulls bald, but also cover them with a scarf on top.

This part of the Jewish population has especially 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 to please modern fashion.

Other rules of conduct for a Hasidic wife In addition to the need to shave their heads and cover their heads with a scarf, women from this group of Jews have to completely hide their bodies. They should not wear dresses that reveal their calves, even if they are wearing thick stockings. Demonstration of 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 dress liberties. Even an inappropriately dressed 8-year-old girl can be publicly censured, and even her mother, who does not follow her daughter's piety, even more so. Some Orthodox Jewish groups even wear the niqab. These are long black shawls that the woman is wrapped in completely, including her hands, face and eyes. Such severity in observing modesty is not accepted even among Muslims.

The wig industry is a flourishing industry in the world, feeding on movie stars, fashion models, bummed beauties 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 - some practical advice for those who are imbued with it.

N., a young mother of three children, every day fulfills more and more commandments of the Torah. She already observes the Sabbath, has sheared the kitchen, transferred the children to a Jewish school. She is confident that she is heading 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 for one thing she is not yet ready - to start covering her hair.

N. is not alone. Many women who are drawn to the Jewish way of life, who happily fulfill the commandments of the Torah, cannot dare 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 is contained in a woman's hair. It is not for nothing that 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 the hair is deduced from the story of "sotha" - a woman who went astray. A woman suspected of cheating on her husband, among other things, had a headscarf removed from her hair in the Temple. Hence, 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 completely covered. If she exposes even a small part of them, the husband has the right to divorce her without paying her due under the marriage contract.

And why cover them up?

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. As a soldier who cannot know the true purpose of a military operation. And any rational explanation will only be part of the truth. But nevertheless, we will give some of them.

A married woman should not become an object of lust for strangers and serve as the cause of 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 covering the head is the external difference between a married woman and an unmarried woman, as well as a Jewish woman from a non-Jewish woman.

History and fashion

In the Sephardic communities, it was customary to cover the head with a scarf, and on top - also a veil, so that the hair was not visible at all. In Ashkenazi communities, over time, wigs appeared in addition to headscarves. Expensive natural wigs were available to a few, while faux wigs were rather coarse, and were collected in a permanent hairstyle that could not be changed. Used as a head cover and a hat, under which a scarf was put on - to completely cover the hair. Nowadays, natural wigs are widespread, and most artificial wigs are no longer distinguishable from natural.

Fashion and customs

Have you ever been to a women's headwear store? This is where the eyes run wide! Sewn, knitted and felted hats; berets, turbans, wide-brimmed, small, round, shawls, scarves ... Patterned and smooth. Decorated with feathers, buttons, crystals, embroidery. Everyday and evening.

And already in the salon of wigs! 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 unusable. Such wigs are most often bought to be worn under a hat, since their wear is not conspicuous in this way.

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

Natural wigs are divided into two types: from cheaper coarse Asian hair and from soft European. The former are already good enough to satisfy the needs of most fashionistas, while still being affordable. The latter are often made to order and are quite expensive.

The choice of headdress 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, although it is not the only one. In Lithuanian communities, not all rabbis approve of the wearing of wigs, but among Hasidim there are a variety of traditions: only a wig, a wig with a cap, a wig with a bang with a cap, a wig with a wide ribbon, a turban, a simple scarf, a scarf with a fluffy knot-bow on the side. In some communities, married women are required to shave their heads and cover them with a simple, fitted headscarf, while in others they wear a two-layer covering, such as a headscarf and cap or a lined turban.

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 for covering hair: 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 cover, since there is no prohibition for a woman to be beautiful, but only a prohibition to show her own hair. The wig copes with the role of covering the hair better than any scarf or hat.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Opinion

It is derived from Jewish law and is unambiguous: only a wig can be a full-fledged head covering. The Rebbe urges women not to leave the house in any headdress except a wig, because, whether a woman wants it or not, even a little hair sticks out from under the most modest headscarf or hat. An additional argument in favor of a wig - 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 deliberately.

In addition, a woman does not hesitate to appear in a wig, wherever it may be, which cannot be said about a headscarf. The Rebbe encourages women to wear beautiful wigs so that those who do not yet cover their heads will want to follow their example.

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

A sure remedy

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

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

I am a wig designer ...

Interview with Teila Gindi, owner of a prestigious wig salon

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

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

- How often should you change your wig?

It mainly depends on the wallet. Some women buy a wig once a year, others - once every three years, while 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 recovered completely. To thank God for the miraculous salvation, she decided to continue wearing the wig after her own hair was re-branched. Today this woman is fully fulfilling the commandments of the Torah.

- What advice would you give to a woman who 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 your hair. So it will be easier for a woman to get used to the wig and avoid violent reactions from others. Later, when wearing a wig becomes a habit, you can play with color, style, length ...

- Is it possible to use the services of a regular 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 a bad haircut. Non-professionals are less likely to be retained in wig design than in hairdressing. You need to know how to wash a wig so that it does not go bald ahead of time, how to take care of it so that your hair does not split and fade.

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

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

A few 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. Lubricate the wig with conditioner, brushing it in the same way with your fingers from roots to ends. Avoid getting the conditioner directly on the roots, that is, on the knots that hold the hair to the base. Leave the air conditioner for 10-15 minutes, and if possible, overnight. Rinse off with running water.

Wrap the washed wig in a towel and blot lightly. If the wig is wavy or curly, leave it to dry naturally. If it is smooth, dry it with a hair dryer, after drying the base (inside out) 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 are there quite a few different religions and beliefs in the world, but they all also have 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 their children according to social, not religious canons. They dress in fashion and do not jealously observe all the rites and traditions of their great-grandfathers. However, there is another category. They are Orthodox Jews. Their life is subject to all the laws of Halakha, formed a very long time ago, in the period of the New Time.

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 directions of Judaism: humanistic (least strict), reformatory, reconstructionist, conservative and orthodox.

Essential Books for Orthodox

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

1. Torah, or "Pentateuch".
2. Naviim, 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.

Branch: Ultra-Orthodox

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

• God is everywhere and always. He must be served every minute, in large and small matters.
• One should serve God exclusively in joy.
• Any sin can be atoned for.

Daily prayer is very important for the Hasidim. It is pronounced in an elevated emotional mood. Its goal is 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 pretty rich people who run the world.

A little about god

It is also worth saying that four thousand years ago, Jews also believed in many gods, like other people on Earth. But still, each clan worshiped one, in their opinion, the most powerful deity. And in one community, Yahweh was in charge. It was this cult that gradually came to the fore and took leading positions according to the number of adherents.

A completely new stage in Judaism is associated with the emergence of such a person as Moses. Scientists are confident that this may indeed be a person who once lived, whose main merit is to bring the Jews out of 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 Scriptures - the Torah, but also many rituals of their ancestors who lived during the heyday of Judaism in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the 14-17th centuries. That is why the appearance of these people is often very strange, according to the opinion of a modern person.

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

1. Spodaki. Made of beaver fur, high. Necessarily black.
2. Streimly. Flat sable fur hats.

Their caftans have various variations. They can be of different lengths. The color can be either just black or with white stripes (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 clothes. They are the obligatory attribute of the tales (a special material that can both cover the entire body of a person during prayer and be part of the 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 every minute he needs to be served.

Hairstyle

Orthodox Jews also differ in their special hairstyle. And to be more precise - in curls that either hang down to the shoulders, or are laid behind the ears. They are called sideways. Not all representatives of Judaism wear such hairstyles, but only those who are jealous of the following commandment of the Torah: "Do not round the edges of your hair and do not cut your beards ..."

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 sideways and long beards.

Nutrition

The entire life of Orthodox Jews is subject to the scriptures of the Torah. The same applies to dietary rules. What can and cannot be eaten by such people?

• Kosher, i.e. allowed, is considered the meat of ruminant artiodactyls, as well as mammals. Orthodox Jews can consume the meat of a sheep, cow, bison, elk, etc.
• Such people cannot eat the meat of rabbits, hares, pigs, horses.
• Kosher bird species: chicken, duck, goose, pigeon, quail.
• The Torah prohibits the use of animal blood in any form. To get rid of it, there are two procedures: salting and frying.
• Also, Orthodox Jews have a strict prohibition on mixing dairy and meat foods. After eating meat, you need to stand for at least 6 hours, and only then eat dairy products.
• You can also eat fish, but not all, but the 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 completely shave their heads on their bald heads. 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 loyal to their husbands. After all, among the Orthodox, a child who is not born of a husband is a terrible sin, a stain of the family. Then he will not be able to live a normal life: study, get married or get married. If the baby is born as an unmarried girl, he will be an ordinary Jew.

The orthodox adhere to old-fashioned rules regarding the role of women. So, the wife's field of activity is family, home, children, comfort. The rest is for men. However, the woman in this religion has never been the property of her husband. She has a wide range of rights and freedoms. In a sense, a woman is even revered, worshiped. However, only within the walls of your home.

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

Traditions and rituals

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

• First of all, you 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 wear a tallit (veil).
• Kapparot is a tradition of atonement for one's sins. It is produced on the eve of Yom Kippur. A man or woman should take a live rooster in his hands and twirl it around his 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 what the followers of this trend are doing. For the most part, they learn. Men go to work only in adulthood. In their youth and the first couple of years in marriage, such men devote all their time to training. That is why this trend is not very favored by the Jews. After all, taxpayers' money goes to support 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.

Jews in Israel are different. Some of them live ordinary lives, dress to their liking, earn money and strive to give their children a good education. Others, Orthodox Jews, live according to the laws of Halakha, which were finally formed at the beginning of Halakha - this is a set of rules governing all areas of life: birth and marriage, work and family, behavior and worldview. Orthodox Jews are visible from afar. They are dressed only in black and white (even underwear can only be of these colors), their head is crowned with a hat, and their hair is adorned with side curtains. "Workers" and Orthodox Jews are not very fond of each other. This is reflected even in proverbs (“When Tel Aviv walks and Jerusalem prays, Haifa works”). This dislike is understandable. Ordinary people are unhappy with the fact that they have to feed and provide for the entire country, and the Orthodox in Israel believe that the life of everyone else is contrary to religious laws. Orthodox can be found not only in Israel, but in many countries they are perceived as something extravagant or exotic.

Rules of life

Orthodox Jews cannot work on Saturday. And going to the store, and calling the elevator, and preparing food, and ... In a word, on Saturday, Jews can only drink, eat, and communicate are considered labor. Recently, they began to picket or even smash the establishments that work on this day of the week. So they call for the observance of the laws of Judaism. Orthodox youth have their own entertainment. Gathering in groups, they beat taxi drivers, salesmen and other working Jews on Saturdays. Apparently such aggressive activity is not considered work. Life is very difficult for the adherents of Halakha. Orthodox Jews must adhere to the 613 rules of the Pentateuch, and this is only on an ordinary, non-holiday day. Therefore, they have no time to work. Each step is scheduled in accordance with the provisions of the Torah. Orthodox Jews should not only eat but also dress (for example, not combine wool and linen). Their clothes are sewn only by special tailors. They should observe all the rules of Shabbat, be circumcised, pray three times a day, serve God with joy, etc.

In fact, it turns out that Orthodox Jews are indifferent to everything except their own faith. The areas where they live are not clean, their children (usually at least five) are unkempt and ill-mannered. Orthodox only study and pray, and for everything else - "The Will of God." Without paying taxes (as the non-working part of the population), they nevertheless do not forget to demand social assistance from the state.

Orthodox are different

Orthodox Jews are not one mass. Adherents of the Hasidi movement are considered ultra-Orthodox. They are the ones who wear black short trousers tucked into socks (so as not to touch the earth's dirt), gird themselves with a black wide belt and cover their heads with a felt hat of the same color. Hasidic women often shave their heads and then wear wigs. Hasidism is a direction prone to mysticism and exaltation. There are also the orthodox - neturei kartos, who oppose Zionism in general, and the existence of Israel in particular. There are Orthodox modernists who are closer to real life, but the Hasidim do not recognize any of these movements.