עברית
Women
Is It Permissible for a Woman to Wear a Wig?
Question
Hello, honorable rabbi!
Is it permissible for a married woman to go out wearing a wig instead of head covering, and in what cases is she allowed to do so? I would appreciate receiving your sources, so that I may also look into them and learn from them.
A good week and thank you in advance,
Naor
Answer
Hello and blessings
There were great Ashkenazi halachic authorities who permitted a married woman to go out wearing a wig in place of head covering. The first was the author of Shiltei HaGibborim, whose words were printed alongside the Rif on tractate Shabbat, sixth chapter, who brought proof for this from the Talmud, and after him several of the poskim followed. In the work Magen Avraham (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim, siman 75, seif 2), he agreed with his words. And the last halachic authority of our generation, our master the Chafetz Chaim, wrote in his work Mishnah Berurah (there, seif katan 15) as follows:
"A hairpiece - this refers to a hairpiece, for hair that was cut and is not attached to her flesh, and he holds [the Rema] that regarding this the Sages did not say, Hair on a woman is ervah, and it is also permitted to uncover it, and there is no concern of uncovering the head. There are those who disagree and say that even with a wig the prohibition of Hair on a woman is ervah and uncovering the head applies. The Pri Megadim wrote that in countries where women go out wearing an uncovered wig, they have on whom to rely on the Shulchan Aruch [meaning the words of the Rema], and it appears from there that even one’s own hair that was cut and then attached to her head may also be treated leniently... He also wrote there that if it is not the custom of the place for women to go out wearing a wig, certainly the law follows the stringent authorities in this regard because of appearance to the eye; see there." End quote. And upon these words most Ashkenazi communities relied to be lenient and go out wearing a wig.
The leading Sephardi authorities tend to be stringent about this, and the view of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef Z'TL is that Sephardi girls must be very careful about this and not be lenient, and go out only with head covering as required by law. In cases where the woman is from Sephardi background, and the husband insists that she go out wearing a wig, the matter is treated leniently.
With success - Menashe Yisrael
