Why Must a Divorced Woman Wear a Head Covering?

Greetings,

1. Indeed, both a widow and a divorced woman are obligated to wear a head covering (Shulkhan Arukh, Even Ha'ezer 21:2, and Beit Shemuel, Sof Siman 21).

It has been explained that the reason for this obligation is that since while they were married they were required to cover their hair, it is similar to other parts of a woman's body that must remain covered, and they are again prohibited from exposing it due to the concept of ervah (Yeshua’ot Yaakov, Part Even Ha’ezer 21, in a responsum by the author’s grandson, Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Orenstein, zt”l, author of *Shut* Berakhat Retzoh).

2. Although there is a complete obligation in this matter, the stringency of the obligation is not the same as that of a married woman, therefore Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, zt”l, holds that they may be lenient in cases of need (such as earning a livelihood) by wearing a pe’ah nochrit (wig), as long as they have not remarried (Shut Yabia Omer, Part 4, Even Ha’ezer 3).

3. This should not limit opportunities, especially in the religious community where people usually know each other through matchmaking, and on the contrary, a woman who goes without a head covering might be categorized in a particular way that would actually diminish her chances of finding a good match.

Best regards,

Hillel Meirs