Posted on 03/11/2007 4:50:38 PM PDT by BlackVeil
A haredi journalist explains what its like to cover her hair with a so-called custom wig
Close Encounters of the Third Kind thats what I like to call secular-haredi discussions. I meet all kinds of people on a regular basis, but as far as Im concerned, secular-haredi dialogues are about as strange as they get.
Because when it comes down to it, we can be neighbors; we can drive on the same streets; and we can listen to the same newscasts. But - no matter what - the culture divide continues to loom mightily.
Whenever I meet secular Israelis, I know I must brace myself for the inevitable Q&A session. Actually, since Im a haredi woman, the queries generally boil down to one specific topic.
With many men, it arises towards the beginning of the conversation, right after I avoid shaking their hands. This reflects the typical male lets get it over with approach.
When it comes to women, however, they first check out my clothes. Occasionally, Ill hear them heave a sigh of relief when they realize that my top came from the same store as their pants.
Usually, these encounters are in a professional capacity. My secular colleagues stand there, ostensibly talking business, but their curious eyes predictably drift upwards towards the top of my head. I see them trying to figure it all out.
Sometimes, I take malicious pleasure in waiting for them to make the first move, when I know quite well that one sentence from me will be sufficient to put them out of their misery.
The more daring ones will eventually bite the bullet and ask the question thats been on the tip of their tongues since they first laid eyes on me. The basic script runs as follows:
Are you haredi?
Yes.
Are you married? Here they glance down at my left hand, as they prepare to lob the final grenade.
So, tell me, they say with assumed casualness. How is that you dont cover your hair?
Ive learned that the best response is a simple one, and so I briefly explain that yes, I do cover my hair and pay about a thousand dollars for the privilege. And thus, my interlocutors are first introduced to custom wigs.
Yes, a wig, I repeat, lest they think theyve misheard. As expected, they then begin staring at my hairline, in a hopeless attempt at solving the mystery.
But even if they gaze at me for a billion years, their inexperienced eyes will never be able to detect that which my brilliant wig stylist has expertly camouflaged.
It really doesnt look like a wig, gushes a surprised governmental spokeswoman, who shall remain nameless. The office where she works has been racked with one scandal after another, and I had wrongly assumed that nothing could shock her anymore.
Can I touch it? she inquires. Against my better judgment, I politely nod yes and find myself being patted like a pedigreed poodle.
You really cant tell that its not your own hair, she exclaims in amazement. She then wonders how this miracle, which costs as much as an average monthly salary, is made.
Wigs in a nutshell
To save myself time in the future, Ive compiled a quick rundown of what my best friend calls the race to the custom.
Let there be no mistake. A custom wig which, as the name implies, is customized and personally fitted to the buyers head - is a very expensive purchase. Prices can reach upwards of $2000. Thats about the cost of a romantic trip for two to Greece.
Is it comfortable? Yes, definitely. But dont talk to me in the middle of July or August when Im wearing this comfort on my head. The results wont be pretty.
And to answer the ultimate question: Dont I have anything better to waste my money on than a wig? Well, yeah, of course I do.
But were talking about something that sits on my head for long periods of time, year-round. So I think youll agree that its a worthwhile investment as long as I dont get in over my head.
Tali Farkash is a haredi journalist.
Wigs actually improve the appearance of most women. If the whole society took on the custom that married women wear wigs (like 18th century French aristocrats) they would appear more elegant. But that, of course, is very different from the argument about religious modesty.
Also, as she notes in this article, wigs are very hot in summer. They must be very unsuitable for life in Israel.
I puzzled as to the benefit of an extremely expensive and sometimes uncomfortable wig, as opposed to a scarf. Every other head-covering group I can think of wears some kind of non-hair (as it were) covering.
Is there something in Jewish history or theology - as opposed to Christian, Moslem, or none-of-the-above - that makes wigs the thing?
I have a photograph of my great-great-grandmother, wearing a bristly, horsehair wig (circa 1880).
I think this custom originated in the 18th century, in imitation of the gentile nobility who wore wigs. There is an old illustration of Lady Judith Montefiore (about 1850) wearing an elegant wig. The custom of Jewish women wearing wigs was widespread by the 1800's.
Illustrations of Jewish women in previous centuries show them wearing veils or head scarves.
Gluckel of Hameln, a 17th-century Jewish woman, wrote about wearing a "wimple" but mentioned "peruke" as something worn by gentiles.
Thanks! That's very interesting.
Is there a socio-economic connotation to a modern Jewish woman's wearing a wig as opposed to a scarf/veil, or is it just personal preference?
It's definitely socio-economic.
When I'm at work (around non-Jews), I want to look professional, so I wear a wig.
I would prefer to wear a hat or a head-scarf, but that is too casual, not professional.
Very informative! I appreciate your time.
I understand the idea of being covered - I just can't wrap myself around a covering that looks like what it's covering.
Kind of like a skin-tight, flesh-colored top. I'm sorry, it sounds offensive and I don't mean to be, but I really don't understand it.
Mrs VS
From the point of view of the woman wearing the wig, it probably feels very different from being bare-headed. Of course, as you say, from the point of view of the observer, it may look the same. However, her behaviour, in a wig, is likely to be somewhat different, and these little differences add up to a lot.
Personally speaking, I dislike wearing a wig and would throw it away in a heartbeat, but if I showed up for work wearing a hat or a headscarf people would think it was weird.
In all my years of working, much of my career spent in DEARBORN, I have never seen a Muslim woman in hijab.
I own 4 wigs, 3 "custom" and one semi-wig (fall) that I wear with a hat. I got them from my hairdresser at half price, she had received them as samples and was having a hard time selling them because of the small head size and red color.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.