- Torah and Jewish Thought
- General Questions
married women showing some hair- where?
Question
Regarding Rav Moshe Feinstein zt"l who allows showing “2 fingers-worth” (4 cm.) of hair to show -: doesn’t this make the woman "not repulsive" - not just to her husband but to others as well?! Is this permitted to everywhere, even if there are other males around? Won’t this awaken their "yetser" by mistake?
Answer
The goal of the hair-covering for married women is certainly not to make them “repulsive” to other men! The Jewish woman should be attractive to her husband, but not attracting, and not distracting, for other men, but not repulsive! Every person is created “in the image of G-d”, and should respect themselves accordingly, and surely should not present themselves nor be seen by others, chalila, as “repulsive”! Our sages halachically define the ideal of modesty regarding a married woman’s hair, that as long as it’s clearly covered, she can leave out this minimal “2 fingers-worth” across her face (4 cm.), and it’s natural and accepted to do so. Accordingly, it’s not considered inappropriate even outside around other men, for a normal man’s “yetzer” should not be aroused by it.
It’s worthy to note that the Maharam Alasker (cited there by R. Moshe) mentions that this legitimate custom of women purposely leaving out that minimal amount of hair was done davka in order to be attractive to their husbands.

Dog Under Shabbat Table
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 3 Av 5764

Mechila
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 16, 5775

Modesty in private
Rabbi David Sperling | Elul 14, 5781
Nafshi Tidom or Chilul Hashem
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Sivan 28, 5771

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Bircat baalat habayit 2
Adar I 23, 5771

Goyim at Shul/hashkafah of Shul
Adar II 1, 5771

Davening if Hashem knows future
Adar II 25, 5771

baruch hamavdil
Adar I 23, 5771

Kashering a dishwasher
Rabbi David Sperling | Cheshvan 23, 5778

Bracha on water
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | Cheshvan 16, 5769

Blood from wound - kosher?
Rabbi David Sperling | Tammuz 28, 5772

Shaitels for non-married women
Rabbi David Sperling | Tammuz 29, 5779

Btselem
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Tevet 18, 5783
CAN A CHALAL MARRY A DIVORCED WOMAN ?
Rabbi Gideon Weitzman | Tevet 23, 5783

Writing in a Siddur
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Tevet 19, 5783
