By COLlive reporter
A new and timely publication is aiming to educate married Jewish women about wearing a Shaitel, fulfilling the requirement of Halacha to cover their hair for Tznius (modesty) purposes.
Published by Anat Hazan and Leah Silverstein, The Shaitel Advantage has been creating quite a bit of excitement in Crown Heights, being hailed for its warm and sensitive approach.
Each chapter is a compilation culled from Igros Kodesh (letters) of the Rebbe noting that wearing a shaitel earns its wearer multitudes of blessings as written in the holy Zohar.
The booklet also makes the case for wearing a shaitel over any other head covering.
“While some feel that hair should ideally be covered with a kerchief or a derivative such as a snood, the Rebbe explains that experience has shown the very opposite, i.e. a covering can easily be pushed back allowing hair to show,” Silverstein told COLlive.com.
After dealing with the purpose of the Shaitel and its rewards, the booklet provides the reader with additional topics such as influencing one’s environment, purchasing the Shaitel with zeal, merits of the Shaitel as well as some stories.
One well-known incident relates the experience of a young woman who had a Yechidus with the Rebbe while wearing a half-Shaitel with a hat.
Although the woman came in with her husband, the Rebbe asked that he leave in order to discuss something with the wife. As soon as the husband exited, the Rebbe told the woman that it would be better for her to wear a full Shaitel.
In response to the woman’s insistence that her hair was adequately covered with a hat and a half-Shaitel, the Rebbe answered, “Would you be satisfied with half your health? A full Shaitel assures ample livelihood and health, and nachas from children and grandchildren.”
And then, with his brilliant smile, the Rebbe concluded: “Do you desire anything more than that?” Sure enough the woman only wore a full Shaitel thereafter.
The Shaitel Advantage is available in both English and Hebrew editions in Crown Heights at Judaica World and at Merkaz Stam. It can also be ordered by email: theshaiteladvantage@gmail.com
Look at these sites: Light In The Box, Wigs-Us, Hikika, AliExpress, Trade Tang. Just be patient and do a lot of searches within the sites. Search “bob” and “chin length” and “medium length”. These wigs are light on the head. You will need liner caps, a folding stand, a wide tooth comb from your drugstore, and synthetic-wig shampoo from Wilshire Wigs web site. A cropped haircut is useful; it is easier to cover with a wig. Get ready to look GOOD. If you have a friend who are staying single too long, suggest a change of hair, too. She will… Read more »
You wash it yourself, when dry it goes back to its set, does not react to humidity. No maintenance expenses, no re-styling by the professional. Look at the Paula Young web site. Try it. We need to get over our prejudice against synthetic hair wigs! These days they are much better than you may remember, # 76. A lot more women would do this mitzvah if they knew it could be done at a reasonable price.
the problem is that the expensive ones are the only ones that look good!!!!
This is where I purchase my wigs:
www. paulayoung.com
for as low as U$ 22
it’s not written any where that you need to spend 1000’s of dollars on a shaitel.some might feel that pressure,especially the younger girls who came of age as these outrageously priced shaitels became popular.
maybe if the price of shaitels wasnt so high, you would have more ppl wearing them,
its craze how much money its cosing for a shetal now days, its got to stop!
there are many women who are ware of at least 25 chemical sprayed on the shaital and then there the 25 chemicals in the shampoo,the added chemicals in the conditioner, so there for you are cosully carring a chemical bombs on your head. you are breathing all these things along with the head as it is a organ that breathe and of course you are miserable. the best solution that l’d found is using natural hair conditioner from the health food store. ;f apples does not have anything that you see, you could ask or go on line or back… Read more »
for those who’s scalp iches,a silk cap might do the trick or you could have an infection(l’m not talking about lice) do check it out
l agree with the woman who said half dress is half naked
l did see a women who had me shocked, l was tempt to say something,but did not,it was like she was wearing a bathing suit in public may we see the imm geula
I use use original slip nots and they are amazing. Changed my whole life. I now wear my sheitel every day instead of tichels coz so comfy!!
you walk around like that and then get offended when someone looks at you like your nuts or tells you something. well guess what people who look at you up at down and tell you things are right you are nuts.
style? walking around half naked!
what kind of style is that?
i dont even find it nice whoever does is a bit strange!
these people with shaitels and mini skirts are just lke the reform, conservative,modern orthodox ect. only doing what they like from torah… throwing the rest to the garbage.
Sheitels can easily be washed and styled yourself with the right equipment that is cheaper to buy in Crown Heights than where I am from. You can even do a course if you need help to learn how. For special simchas you can get it done professionally. I love wearing a sheitel and the ones available today(even the cheaper ones) are WAY more comfortable than what used to be available when I first got married.Its especially a Lubavitcher woman’s Mitzvah and that makes it even easier in my opinion. For those people that feel it ridiculous to spend so much… Read more »
who needs to take a shaitel to the shaitel machers every week??
If shaitel machers would have such good customers then people would be that instead of doctors and lawyers!
What a stupid comment of you to make…..
i take care of my own shaitels and i’m not naturally talented at this at all.wash them gently and hold them straight up working the shampoo through with your fingers.buy hot rollers and experiment a little or ask your daughter or friend.i even dye mine myself when they oxidate,again super easy-follow the directions on the box.PS a short shaitel will keep the back of your neck much more comfortable in the summer.hatzlacha rabba and all the rebbe’s brachos for wearing a shaitel.
Who told you to wash and set a sheitel every week?
It’s not like your own scalp, where your pores put out secretions of oils, etc.
Yes, of course we must take good care of our sheitlach, and they do need washing.
But even for a sheitel worn every day, once a month is plenty, unless your kid brechs up on it (C”V) or something like that. Washing a sheitel more often than that could make the sheitel not last long at all.
ONE SHOULD ASK THEMSELVES: WHY AM I IN CROWN HEIGHTS? WHAT IS MY PURPOSE OF BEING HERE? BEING DRESSED INAPPROPRIATELY JUST DOESN’T FIT ! iF I LOOK LIKE THIS WHAT WILL MY KIDS LOOK LIKE? RACHMONO LITZLAN!
i WOULD SUGGEST THE SAME AS 59 .EITHER GET DRESSED OR LEAVE OUR HAIKLIGE SHCHUNA! l
At some shaitel machers they charge north of $40 to wash and set a shaitel. that is close to 200 a month.I think a lot of women struggle with that.
Dont discount a womens feelings so easily
The rebbe said, at least once (and I think many more times) that wearing a shaitel can be nicer than a girls own hair. The point of a shaitel is to cover the “se’ar be’isha erva’ that the head hair of a married women is nudity. Shaitels are a phenomena of less the a century (before then in europe they had shaitels made of horse hair). I am not sure where anyone got the idea that it is against halacha? In terms of tichels the Rebbe mentioned about that most women would remove it if (then) President Eisenhower walked in… Read more »
whoever feels the need to dress inappropriately should either relocate to areas where this dress is acceptable or before leaving their homes THINK VERY CAREFULLY where exactly they are walking out into. This is the capital of Lubavitch ,these are the streets where the Rebbe himself walked through and these are the streets the whole world is looking at as an example of truth and imminent GEULAH. Why would one be silly enough to appear in such a way. SIILLY is the only way I could see this. CROWN HEIGHTS stands for something completely different than anywhere else. Before you… Read more »
ACTUALLY, UR NOT ALLOWED TO DAVEN, AND SAY CHITAS, NOR LEAVE UR PRIVATE QUARTERS WHEN UR NOT TZNIUS. tZNIUS IS NUMBER 1. and when we tznius people see what we shouldn’t we are embarassed- because we are seeing what should be covered. the sad part is that the barely dressed woman does not feel sensitive to her inappropriate exposure. the bottom line is that you are perverting this holy neighborhood and shaming our community. why do you live here if you dont want to live up to the standards?
We have changed our attire over the course of the centuries, but there was always a common denominator: we always dressed like the elites. Our garments were luxurious and dignified, just the way that royalty should dress. And that is one aspect of the mitzva of tznius we can all improve. Look yourself in the mirror and make sure you are dressed appropiately for a “royal”, and remember that those casual, lived in styles invariably lead to “casual” behavior: when dressed nicely we sit differently, walk differently etc. I grew up as the only frum girl among hundreds. Being the… Read more »
Please quote the source, with page number or siman, s’if etc.
i bought the slip not and it didn’t work as well as my Milano band. just saying…
its nice to war a shaitel but if somone puts on a shaitel how long can it be already and the probloms with tichles r that some women wear them basicly off their heads so if u wear a shaitel plz make sure its tznius same with the tichel if ur wearing one plz wear it how its supposed to b worn for its purpose
I wear a short sheitel everyday and it is just as miserable and uncomfortable as a long sheitel. Sorry.
so we know the Mitzrayim wore ‘sheitelach’..did the Jewish women wear the wigs of those of Ancient Egypt?? Our men have appropriated the style of Polish clothing of the bekashe and kapote..those were NOT Jewish before, now they are…. just look at how different the Sephardim and Ashkenazim dress differently. We have over time changed our attire over the course CENTURIES….
do you own an ipod? camera? cell phone(s)? computer? car? how many of your unmarried children own these? did you steal it or pay for it?
People tend to afford what they need….
don’t be such a hyphocritical rachmunus!
Does this book have any ideas for people who cannot pay the exorbitant prices it costs to buy, and wear (ie wash and set etc.) a shaytel. I wish I could wear mine more, but financially it isn’t possible.
Wigs were already worn in ancient Egypt.
if you are a lubavitcher you follow the rebbe’s instruction,in this case a bekasha nafshis.that’s it .period.it’s a huge rachmanos if any of us think we know better then the rebbe.
#5, I applaud you for being aware of your weaknesses. May no one criticize you for your quest to become stronger. (By the way it’s not so much jealousy as the idea of feeling threatened by a woman who can and will show more).
Maybe someone can explain to me how it is that a sheitl is more tznius than a tichel that covers everything when a good-quality sheitl can look like no headcovering at all? And how long is just too long?
How does Mrs. Morosow know if Sara, Rivkah, Rochel and Leah wore sheitelach??? I highly doubt they wore sheitelach much less stockings…. those materials were NOT available during those times.
I agree with #44: wearing a tichel (Properly of course, without pushing it back) shows that you are covering your hair… a sheitel now looks so much like regular hair that no one can really tell that someone is wearing a sheitel (at least in the secular society).
You’re right — wearing a tichel outside the house demonstrates extremely clearly that a woman isn’t covering her hair properly!
That is definitely what people think when they see one.
Some people only wear a tichel becuz they think if they wear a shaitel ppl might think they arent covering their hair. But wearing a tichel demonstrates it more clearly.
When I was in 12th grade in Bais Rivkah a few years ago, Mrs. Sara Morosow (kallah class teacher) taught us Bayis Yehudi. She did a unit on Sheitels, and went through the halachic background for it, from Posuk, to Mishnah, to gemarah to contemporary halacha and the Rebbe’s views, (including why a sheitel is practically the only adeqate head covering) giving us the sources. You can probably ask any girl who was in her class for a copy of her notes…. Or you can contact Mrs. Morosow, and ask her for the sources to look up yourself. The Sheitel… Read more »
as wonderful as saying chitas and davening are,there is no question that al pi halacha tzneeus takes precedent and and is indeed OUR mitzva as torah learning is a man’s mitzvah. you’re right ;it’s not for us to judge others but the reality is that the frum world is judging us and by extension our rebbe.is this fair to him after all he did/does for us? PS,style,taste interests etc.,of course we all have them but is that a license to do whatever we want? you know the answer.
The contrast between the picture in the begining of the ad and the end is enormous.
Provacative long, curly, trendy shaitlach are goyish.
Shaitlach should be neat and attractive not cool and attracting!
people tend to respect others by their outer appearance. a book is judged by its cover, the Rebbe is regarded by the world according to the look of his Chassidim. What a responsibility.
Stop trashing Lubavitch, the Rebbe and Hashem. You are only inviting the enemy…. V’hatzne lechem im Elokech; …v’loi yirah becho ervas davar v’shuv maacharecha!
Also check out THIS week’s Algemeiner English Section, where the paper’s editor asserts that they “received a disproportionate volume of responses to Mimi Hecht’s article last week about women’s head covering, mostly critical.”
They print, this week, an impassioned response from Rabbi Greenberg in Anchorage, Alaska, which we should all read!
If a woman’s taste (or a current fashion trend) runs to long haired sheitels, she will have the most discomfort with wearing a sheitel due to: 1) The discomfort in the summer heat; 2) The frequent tangling, with all of the putting on and taking off layers of clothing in the winter; 3) The weight of the long hair causing more pull on the scalp clips (OW!). Ironically, this can cause a woman to experience more discomfort and hassle than necessary with the sheitel-wearing experience. She may, R”L, start to rationalize wearing a scarf in the street, thinking she “doesn’t… Read more »
Themach tzedek on mishnios
BS”d
Most of the sheitels worn on the streets of Crown Heights today are not in keeping with the halacha. It’s very nice that people are encouraging others to cover their hair, but the way they cover it is also important. Not every sheitel is kosher, and it is most unfortunate that many think otherwise. Hashem knows the heart and understands all intent from the inside. The picture along with this article speaks a thousand words.
Unfortunately, these days, there are those that have even managed to ruin the idea of wearing a shaitel!! THere are too many young women wearing large parts of their out of the front of their shaitel!!! Not only does it usually look stupid(ladies-you can always tell where the shaitel starts and hair ends….). There is absolutely no heter to do such a thing and it really saddens me that these girls are throwing away Brochos and inviting Chas Vesholom the opposite, by doing so!!!! It is really hard to cover your hair – but the benefits are enormous! Whilst you… Read more »
100% right
can you quote any sources on that? (about the Tzemach Tzedek) “I think” isn’t a halachic opinion. It is less than unlikely that the Rebbe would not enact a takonah against something the Tzemach tzedek said!
the Rebbe Was only Agenst Hats And Small Tichel But Not The Shpizel Style Tichel like The ones In Yerushlyim OR Willasburg in mater of fact the reebe Sad To the old yerusshlyimer yidden not to change from shpizel tichel to shatel (olso i think the tzamach zadek forbid wearirg sheitel only full coverd tichel)
the ones ho are drsing on znius are dowing the greatest damidge to CH and to them selft and chindren The Rebbe Wold make a Massive Mivza of Znius In CH To Bring Moshiach
what you do in your own home is your business, but the street is a reshus harabbim and you have no jurisdiction over your actions beyond your doors. When you walk out on the street and wear provacative or untznius clothing you are causing others to sin and that is the issur of “do not place a stumbling block” whereas when you don’t say your chitas it is not only not an issur but for you to say it is poking fun at the Rebbe or the Alte Rebbe or any of our Rebbeim for that matter. You are learning… Read more »
Some people think that when u see a women not dressed properly they think that by harming her physically or emotionally it will make her want to dress properly. When it comes down to it 2 negatives (girl not dressed properly and being harassed about it) doesnt make a positive but makes a bigger negative.
Some people think that when u see a women not dressed properly they think that by harming her physically or emotionally it will make her want to dress properly. When it comes down to it 2 negatives (girl not dressed properly and being harassed about it) doesnt make a positive but makes a bigger negative.
The women who are dressed properly please dont judge the ones who arent. Everyone has there issues and style. You may think the style is trashy but everyone has there own taste.
And please dont look up and down at someone cause u dont like how they look. And as to # 23 please dont judge
What i cant understand is why is there such a negativity in woman who are dressed properly? and u know what most of these woman who r not dressed properly actually daven say chitas and do great things everyday so do not judge as to why these women dress the way they do. Everyone has there own issues and there own style which u may think its trashy but with all the respect what do u know? dont look just on the outside cuz theres a lot more to it and by giving them looks as to the way they… Read more »
sorry but after research i never saw anything that said you must cover your hair-maybe inference etc but i do not believe it is a law.Secondly if it is, then why not wear any head covering?None of this makes any sense to me.Im just being honest.
To answer 23, BH those women are wearing sheitels. Hopefully they will gain strength from this mitzva and through it to strengthen their observance of the other women’s inyonim. Why should kisui rosh get discarded even when other aspects of tsnius do. BH for what everyone keeps. They should also reap the benefits. One mitzvah not kept does not negate all the other ones that a person does. May we all go mechayil el chayil. Also, we should see that all the mitzvos we keep as women have a shmira aspect to them not only for us and our families… Read more »
I cant understand why woman walking along our streets who barely cover the rest of their bodies are wearing amazing shaitlach?
Interesting prospecitve, about the Jelousy, why would they be jelous? Anyone can and unfortunately some do dressed not tzniusdik, I think the looks are more pity (that it’s hard for you to control you YH) pity that you think that’s what makes you prettier (I am sure you would look great whatever you wear) and some probably have anger because for sure it not easy for anyone to dress tzniusdik (we are all hot…) and since some do stick to the rules there is room for anger to those who walk around in a neighborhood where their husbands have to… Read more »
I’ve seen a number of Chabad women wearing tichels or snoods with quite a bit of hair showing… I’d like to know why that is. At first I thought it merely slipped back but after seeing it a number of times I wondered if these women were doing it deliberately to ‘justify’ the Rebbe’s words that a tichel or snood may not cover all of one’s hair…
Just because the Rebbe said that a tichel or snood may not cover all of your hair adequately doesn’t mean that you MUST let some hair show if you’re wearing one…
The original slip not head band that works unbelievably is sold by Anat, and little toes and lots of other places now all over the world. Its a MUST HAVE!
The story of the Rebbe asking the husband to leave. then speaking to the wife…. A woman today, and to a rov (even the “greatly anticipated 3rd”, would likely say “Rabbi, with all respects, that’s between me and G-d.” As for tzniue, I have been told “How dare you invade somoene’s privacy to talk about this.” To #5: You are living under 2 assumptions. (1) that others view your display uncovered looks good; (2) Even that being the case, that other women share your values an are (must be) jealous. You do provide one interesting dimension: That women who display… Read more »
you could get the band in here CH from Anat. She is @ 355 Kingston Ave and she is a great sheitel macher!
if they adress this issue in the sefer: People erronously think the Rebbe was talking about the advantage of the sheitel over a tichel while out of the house. Nowhere does the Rebbe make this diatinction. All the reasons apply in the home too and even more so! One must wear a sheitel in the house and not a tichel.
jealous? dressing untznius is simply showing lack of respect to the neighborhood- the Rebbe’s home. Its very bothersome and uncomfortable to look at someone who is not covered enough- and please dont act based on other people’s perception of you, look into yourself, do what you know is right, and be strong about what you believe in- without letting yourself fall and weaken because of other people.
I heard about this band and that it keeps your sheitel in place without using the clip. While it’s wonderful that it also keeps your tichel in place, the point of the book is about the brochos that one gets from wearing a sheitel specifically. That is what the Rebbe wanted from us. I will be buying the band the next time that I go to Boro Park but I will be using it for it’s intended purpose of keeping my sheitel on my head, comfortably!
We love you – from your biggest fans!!! Berel’e, Seema amd Chana Rochel
I have a great idea. do like these two great women did. research the halacha. research the rebbes letters, talks and dollar encounters, and then raise the money and print an appealing book.
nice way of saying it and admitting it at least u know that sometimes ur trapped not like some other ppl
I bought mine at this web site
http://www.mcwigs.com/accessories4.aspx
I bought the booklet in February at Merkaz Stam when I came to CH. I finally made a hachlata to only wear a sheitel when I go out after buying this. (admittedly, if I’m not going out of the car as I carpool, I have occasionally worn a tichel) First I made a commitment only until chof beis shvat. Then until yud aleph nissan. And now I just feel uncomfortable with the idea of wearing my tichel out. I didn’t expect to ever reach this point, but I had always HEARD that the Rebbe had said one thing or another,… Read more »
by wearing a long sheitel you do the mitzva of covering your hair but it against the tznius laws. its about time someone should say it.
Positivity about tznius (shaitels), peace in the community, who can ask for anything more?
Yeah ppl shuld always wear shaitels even when they leave the HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
just bought a band that keeps my tichel from slipping back and i could wear my shaitel without using clips. bought mine at Milano. i bought it online for all my sisters.works amazing Hope they mention it in the book.
Mostly I am very tznius, but I admit I have a yetzer hara to whos trap I fall periodically. When that happens I get dirty looks from some people in the community (men and women, mostly women who I think are jealous) and that makes me only want to continue dressing more untznius (which happens). I wish that you can only find a positive method to enforce tznius. Maybe a block by block campaign with regional mashpios, personally approaching their respective charges in a VERY POSITIVE way! I want to tell these courageous women I solute your attitude to dealing… Read more »
I’m so happy to see this…
I was horrified by an article in the Algemeiner last week, where she casually explains away why she absolutely cannot always wear a tichel, regardless of the Rebbe’s wishes..
This is amazing!!
go mrs silverstein!!! what an amazing job you are doing from ch! keep it up!!!
nice!! kol hakavod!!! good luck!
It is about time that someone did something to encourage women in a positive way. Until now we only had negative campaigns enforcing tznius.