How an Orthodox Jewish family lives, why women need a wig. Orthodox Jews: who are they? Why do women shave their heads

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.

, 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 have a negative impact on 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.

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, 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 Behavior of a Hasidic Wife 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.

Jews in Israel are different. Some of them live ordinary lives, dress according to their taste, earn money and strive to give their children a good education. Others, Orthodox Jews, live according to the laws of Halakha, which finally took shape by 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 decorated with sidelocks. "Workers" and Orthodox Jews do not like each other very much. 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 whole country, and the orthodox in Israel believe that the life of everyone else is contrary to religious laws. Orthodox are not only found in Israel, but in many countries they are perceived as something extravagant or exotic.

Rules of life

Orthodox Jews cannot work on the Sabbath. And going to the store, and calling the elevator, and cooking, and ... In a word, on Saturday, Jews can only drink, eat, and communicate. Recently, they began to picket or even smash establishments operating on this day of the week. So they call to fulfill the laws of Judaism. Orthodox youth have their own entertainment. Gathering in groups, on Saturdays they beat taxi drivers, sellers, and other working Jews. Apparently such aggressive activity is not considered work. The life of the adherents of Halacha is very difficult. Orthodox Jews must adhere to the 613 rules of the Pentateuch, and this is only on a regular, non-holiday day. So they don't have time to work. Each step is scheduled in accordance with the provisions of the Torah. Orthodox Jews must not only eat but also dress like this (for example, do not combine wool and linen). Their clothes are sewn only by special tailors. They must observe all the rules of Shabbat, be circumcised, pray three times a day, serve God in 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 distinguished by cleanliness, their children (usually at least five) are untidy, badly brought up. The Orthodox only study and pray, and for everything else - "God's Will". Without paying taxes (as a 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 a single mass. Adherents of the Hasidic movement are considered ultra-Orthodox. It is they who wear black short trousers tucked into socks (so as not to touch the earth's dirt), girdled 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 orthodox people - neturei karto, who oppose Zionism in general, and the existence of Israel in particular. There are also orthodox modernists closer to real life, but the Hasidim do not recognize any of these currents.