Reprinted ArticleArutz Sheva - Israel National News Statement by The Bostoner Rebbe, Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz Our Women
of Valor be Praised (IsraelNN.com) The Bostoner Rebbe Grand Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Horowitz requested that every person should pass on the following message to his or her family: The unedited message below appears as it was released by the Rebbe, in the original English text on 7 Sivan (27 May). ”In all of the difficult times that Klal Yisroel has experienced throughout the generations, B’nos Yisroel (the women of Israel) were always outstanding and exceptional by virtue of their modest manner and dress. Chazal tell us “BiZechus Nashim Tzidkaniyos Nig’alu MiMitzrayim”. Klal Yisroel (Jewish People) were redeemed from Egypt in the merit of righteous women). Furthermore, the women did not take part in the “Chet Ha’Egel” (the sin of the golden calf), an instance where it was the Jewish men who failed and sinned. This we know from Chazal (our Sages) and all of our Great Sages throughout the generations. “In our own generation we have been Zocheh (merited) to see that Jewish women still have this attribute, and that Bnos Yisroel continue to attain an elevated spiritual level. I am specifically referring to the halachic decisions regarding “Shaitels” (wigs). ”Many have claimed that the only reason women cover their hair with a shaitel was to appear more attractive, and that they did not do this for the reason of Tznius (modesty) or to fulfill the Mitzva of covering one’s hair. ”The righteous women of Klal Yisroel have now proved this assumption to be wrong. They have demonstrated this by immediately taking off any shaitel that was questionable until the matter was halachically clarified. They have thereby proved that their sole motive in wearing a shaitel is to cause “Nachas Ruach” (them to be in favor) before Hashem (G-d). The fact that they took off every Shaitel that had a possible “Issur” (prohibition) shows that from the beginning their goal was to fulfill the Halacha that requires women to cover their hair, and not for any other reason. ”Many women have suffered shame and inconvenience when they could not go to family “simchas” (events) because they did not have an appropriate hair covering. Even so, they did not hesitate from doing so (i.e not going) in order to obey “divrei chachamim” (the injunction of the Rabbis). ”As there are now “Hechsherim” (certification) of qualified Rabbonim (rabbis) regarding specific Shaitel brands, women therefore have a “Chezkas Kashrus” (halachic approval) for wearing their shaitels. By this I wish to emphasize that if a woman is seen wearing a Shaitel, she is surely doing so, only after having received approval from her Rav. Chas VeShalom (G-d forbid) that anyone should suspect her of wearing a Shaitel that is not halachically approved (conforming with Jewish law). ”On the contrary, we should be proud of our womenfolk and hope that Hashem will look with favor upon the actions of Bnos Yisroel and in their merit we will be Zocheh to the Geulah Shlemah (redemption).”
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