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Full Description
Traditional Judaism considers the hair of a married woman erotic. As a
result, married Jewish women are generally expected to cover their
hair, except in front of her husbands, and sometimes in the company of
other women. For most of Jewish history this practice was not disputed
- mainly because society at large also considered it immodest for women
to let their hair down in its city streets.
However, as the general definition of modesty has changed in
the last two centuries, Jewish women have followed suit, debating the
necessity of covering their hair in a world that remains "uncovered."
Today, most observant, married Jewish women cover their hair in some
way although a vocal minority declines to do so at all. Hair covering
has, therefore, become the bellwether for religiosity, turning practice
into politics.
Sources dispute the when, why, and how of hair covering, but
nearly all agree on one thing: it is the obligation of married Jewish
women to cover their hair in some manner. To be frank, it is not always
an easy observance. It can, in fact, change the very nature of a
woman's identity when her reflection fails to display what she once
considered an identifying trait.
This collection of essays explains the law, considers the
customs, and includes the voices of women from around the world who are
very much moved by the nature of this challenging observance.
The traditional Jewish community has long been silent on
the very personal, yet also public, matter of married women covering
their hair with hats, scarves, and even wigs. Hide and Seek is
the first book to discuss this topic, and includes legal and
sociological perspectives of this observance, citing relevant texts and
rabbinic discourse, as well as the history, tradition, and customs of
Jewish communities from around the world. The book also includes 24
personal essays from women regarding this sensitive issue.
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