By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times
Before we get to any halachic analysis, let us just make a quick point.
The school in question has a remarkable reputation in reaching the highest ideals of chinuch. They imbue their students with pride in Yiddishkeit as well as a very healthy sense of self-esteem. They give their students proper “idud.” This is true from the hanhallah down to the remarkable moros.
When one first sees the video that is making its rounds, the immediate thought is that it is a typical pre-school lice check.
But then you see the ruler. The next thought is, are they measuring the size of the louse? And then it sinks in. They are measuring hair length. Then you are told of the reaction on social media – some people think that the school is taking things too far.
On the other hand, this is the school’s policy. If the school wants to make a rule on hair length – why can’t they?
It all comes down to one point. Is there a halachic basis for having short hair for single and young girls? And if there is such a basis, is this the normative halacha in our circles or not?
VIDEO:
THE CONTRADICTION
There may be a shocking contradiction in the words of the Shulchan Aruch between what he writes in Orech Chaim and what he writes in Even HaEzer. In chapter 75 subparagraph 2 of Orech Chaim, the Mechaber rites that one is forbidden to recite the shma before the hair of a married woman. However, in front of single girls, who go with uncovered hair – it is permitted.
In Even haEzer 21:2 it states that daughters of Israel should not go out with uncovered hair, whether married or single.
RESOLVING THE CONTRADICTION
There are a few ways in which this contradiction in the words of the Shulchan Aruch is resolved. There is the Bais Shmuel’s answer, and the Mogain Avrohom’s answer.
ONCE WERE MARRIED
Rav Shmuel Ben Uri Shraga Feibish (1650’s), author of the Bais Shmuel, states (21:2) that the case in Even HaEzer is discussing divorced or widowed women. They are single, but they were once married. Hence they must cover their hair. Rabbi Moshe Lima, author of the Chelkas Mechokaik, (1615-1670) learns similarly to the Bais Shmuel as does Rav Yoel Sirkes, author of the Bach.
HAIR MUST BE BRAIDED
Rav Avrohom Gumbiner (1635-1682), author of the Mogain Avrohom, has a different approach. He writes (OC 75:3) that the prohibition in Even haEzer is to undo one’s braid and let the hair run loose in the street. The Mogain Avrohom writes that this is forbidden even for single girls. He explains that this is not a Torah prohibition, but rather a midah of tznius.
The practice of many in Meah She’arim is to follow this Mogain Avrohom and that is why one sees long braids in Meah She’arim.
In America, however, most Poskim resolve the contradiction according to the understanding of the Bais Shmuel.
There is another group of people, who learn like the Mogain Avrohom, but claim that if the hair is short then there is no problem. This seems to be the approach of Rabbi Pesach Eliyahu Falk, author of Oz v’Hadar Levusha. It is this author’s view that the Old Yishuv in Yerushalayim (Meah Sh’arim) has rejected the view of this latter group. [The author’s cousins reside in this neighborhood, by the way.]
NOT FOUND IN THE TALMUD
There is no mention anywhere in the Gemorah that single girls have to have short hair. Indeed, from the narrative of Rochel the daughter of Kalba Sabuah – the indication is that she did not have short hair (although one can answer this question that it was bound – but this is not so mashma).
MIDAS HADIN
There is also the issue mentioned in the Zohar (BaMidbar 151) that long hair is discouraged because it represents Midas haDin. However, this is limited to men and not to women, especially young girls. This is borne out by the AriZal in Shaar HaMitzvos page 23b where he cites the verse, “v’ish ki imrat rosho.”
ADDING STRINGENCIES
The author of the Sidrei Taharah (190:55) writes that he does not wish to add stringencies on Bnos Yisroel. This should be the approach that we take in general for a number of reasons, particularly when the standard of tznius in our communities has always been to follow the approach of the Beis Shmuel.
The Gedolei haPoskim have ruled that we should avoid adding stringencies – especially upon others. This is clearly expounded in the Rosh in Shabbos (2:15). See also the Pri Chadash OC 451, the Kuntrus Acharon of the GraZ (440:1). See also the Ben Ish Chai on Parshas Shoftim letter 27.
WHY WE SHOULD AVOID EXCESSIVE CHUMROS
There are a number of reasons why we should avoid adding excess chumros.
One reason that is not inconsequential is that we do not wish to look down upon others, chas veshalom. Adopting stringencies can at times cause us to incorrectly judge others -chas veshalom.
Another reason is that, often, if the young girls do not conform to these allegedly stricter standards, their self-perception of themselves may at times be lowered. Our jobs as parents and as mechanchim are to build the self-esteem of our children and students – not to lower their own perception of themselves. Now while it is unclear as to whether measuring hair length in this community could do so, some are of the opinion that if it affects even one person – why risk it?
In Parshas Dvarim, the pasuk tells us that Klal Yisroel are the descendents of Avrohom, Yitzchok, and Yaakov. Rashi points out that this is somewhat extraneous. He answers that it teaches us that Klal Yisroel would have been worthy to enter into Eretz Yisroel just for having descended from even one of them.
The point is that Moshe Rabbeinu is pointing out to us that we are descendants of all three – the simple understanding of this is that he is trying to build up our self-perception of ourselves.
If a young woman likes her hair to be a certain way, and that is the normative halacha as codified by the vast majority of our Poskim – then why deny her what she defines as her beauty?
CONCLUSIONS
We should not be judgmental in what different schools in different communities do. We should also be very careful when discussing the reputation of a wonderful model school. There is a basis for long unbound hair to be considered not tznius. However, it is a position that is not the normative halacha in American circles. It is, however, the normative view in the old yishuv in Eretz Yisroel. The measure of four inches below the collar bone as embodying the definition of non-tznius hair seems to be without a source in halacha. We should avoid adopting chumros that go against halachic and communal norms – particularly when they may affect others negatively. Of course, as in all matters, a school should pose their questions to Gedolei haPoskim as to what and what not to implement.
When these incidents come up, we should look at them as teaching moments in Torah, halacha, and hashkafah rather than an opportunity to be judgmental and bash.
The author can be reached at [email protected]
The Rebbe was indeed pro sheitel and would not have approved of the snood that the woman is wearing in public, however, we also have to wonder if the Rebbe would have approved of the sheitlach that young women often buy today. Years ago, women both inside and outside of Lubavitch looked to the Rebbe for guidance on hair coverings. Today, these women have to listen to the leadership in their own communities. In that woman in the picture’s circles, women usually do wear wigs to work but don’t necessarily change out of their house snoods for minor errands. I… Read more »
One of the reasons that the rebbe was so pro sheitel is exactly this reason . The woman who thinks her hair is so well covered with her snood , is exposing her hair!!
not to have hair length measured. yes, the school in question DOES have a policy about that, but, they are not lining up the girls to measure their hair. at nit check if they feel someone is ignoring the policy they check.
Young girls! What about married women! “We shouldn’t pass judgment…blah, blah, blah” This writer is so off the mark. You should be writing about the sickness of the tight tight tight tight skirts that Chabad women are shamelessly wearing and that their Chasidisshe husbands allow them out with. This article is a deflection from the real problem and frankly, is insulting to thinking people. If our married women are walking around like this now, what do you think their daughters are going to look like in a few years.
When you quote a Pesak halocho
You must quote source
Never good to just to say I personally know
that girls’ hair should either be short or else “gathered”, i.e. in a ponytail or braid(s). I remember this personally but I’m sorry I can’t cite the exact sicha.
I take issue with the author’s niceties about this being an excellent school. That makes this all the worse!! If it was some fringe school that was viewed by everyone as being over the top then we could all ignore it but when it is seen as the gold standard then they will inadvertently impose their chumras on all the other schools. It is very easy to raise the bar of extremes. It is more difficult to find leniencies if they are needed. Klal Yisroel loses out because they are held hostage by those who, in many people’s eyes, go… Read more »
When people will understand they teaching the wrong way Ashem is not stopping on your hair length .all those girls from frum background have sheitel so Long this is a revolt to all this none sense so many friends of mine turn around to yiddiskeit because all this none sense Stop adding the Not allowed stop making a new torah If my child was in this school I will take her out right there It’s a shame reading a article like this I wanted to run away from the religious people. Enough if we want to being Moshiach Time is… Read more »
“And the ones that don’t obviously dont consider themselves chassidim in this area.” Not so obvious. Maybe YOU dont consider them chassidim but then again, you arent the one in charge of what people consider themselves. On another note thats like saying your only a chossid if you do no wrong. But I dont know how many people who consider themselves chossidim, do no wrong simply because of their label. So if there is anything wrong with what someone is doing, then you turn to defense mode and state that they arent chassidim in order to protect that name. Doesnt… Read more »
Was the school thinking about the kids, what this might do to them to put their picture on the web so everyone can see, they could of took the girls aside and talked to them, if they were so concerned about the length of their hair, that is not Tznius,
What do you mean by better than everyone else? First of all it says clearly in pirkei avos that a chossid goes lifnei mishuras hadin so litvish people can also be chassidim. Second of all its very healthy to be proud of who you are and what you stand for and this does not mean that this same person disrespects others. Third of all I regularly walk down Kingston and am proud to notice many many many women in crown heights that dress lifnei mishuras hadin. And the ones that don’t obviously dont consider themselves chassidim in this area.
Girls have enough rules as it is, adding more rules isn’t helpful. It’s like what Adam did to Chava- telling her that you can’t even touch the tree-which caused Chet Eitz Hadas!
The Rebbe was not directing sheital wearing to the whole world. The Rebbe did prefer sheitals because they would not expose the hair or be easily removed in awkward situations but the Litvish, Chassidishe, and Sephardic communities clearly have their own levush and the Rebbe also told those who came into Lubavitch to maintain their original levush. That is why there are Lubavitcher men with shtreimlach and women with covered sheitals. Some Chassidishe shave their heads and wear Shpritzels (sp?) and Lubavitch does not look down on that or on groups who have their own levush.
Dear controlling ones, Leave the young girls and their long hair alone!
the rebbe didnt say only lubavitchers should wear a sheitel. its for the whole world. and all the time some1 tries to fight the rebbe on it
if there is an issue halachically then its an issue
emunah and kabolas ol is not just doing something when we have no problem with it
its doing something even if “us with our own sechel doesnt agree….”
Many comments not sure why the article is posted here. Well for one thing maybe it is posted here because “Kol Yisrael areivim ze la ze”? I know its difficult to accept that in this community because we only care about matters pertaining to us. Or maybe it is very similar to the “Bnos Menachem” issue? And for all those complaining why “lakewood” topics are posted on this “exclusive” chabad site, do you know how many Chabad related topics are posted on “exclusive” non-chabad sites? Should chabad be banned from any other site other than COL? How would you like… Read more »
Oh ya? You are on top of everyone else? Oh ya it is a good thing that we are Chassidim and better than everyone else isnt it? You say not only do we (Chassidim) follow the tznius laws, we also add to them? Really?! Have you walked down Kingston ave? Is that what you mean by “add to them”? What a Pity..
Very well said !!! Agree totally !
It’s not about the length of the hair if appropriate or not .
But more about how we go about doing things .
Before all you elitist chadsters jump on the bandwagon to point out those litvaks, lets not forget the controversy of Bnos Menachem which had record breaking comments here on this site. Its a a real shame how one is so quick to point out problems in other communities and how quickly they forget their own!
letter of the Rebbe, 13 Cheshvan , 5732
“My opinion is known that the proper length that applies equally to all Jewish daughters and in all places is that the [length of the garment be such that the] knees be covered even while sitting.”
Also the famous Yechidus with Rabbi Gafni
Models all have long hair. Nuf said.
Don’t be holier than thou!
Although not in favor …….Can’t judge why they do this just wish wasn’t posted here!
I agree that it is too bad the video was taken and posted. I am sure the teachers and students did not give permission to the one holding the camera to make their images public. I also think the spectacle is overkill. A ruler!! This is a chumra on a minhag. If the policy is that a girl’s hair should be no longer than the collarbone then say that and leave it at that. You don’t have to subject every student to a public affirmation. If a teacher notices a girl with hair that is clearly too long (forget a… Read more »
I live near a large Litvish community and there is nothing wrong with a cloth head covering in that community. The Rebbe wanted Lubavitchers to wear sheitlach in public but the rest of the world is not obligated to observe that standard.
Rip it off like an old band-Aid just bring out the berkas already. All of this what’s going is turning off more and more of our kids today it’s all fun and games for the teachers for the kids as they get older they’re going to be resentful to all this. And besides why is everybody so obsessed with only this issue and not the rest of the torah
If the girl’s hair (down loose) is longer than the prescribed length, they have to get it cut. What right does a school have to say how long hair can be if it is tied up and neat? This nanny-state is unacceptable.
The awful and controlling way these little girls are being treated in the video, even attempting to give an analysis on it is a disgrace!!
what’s interesting to me is that from the looks of the girls’ hair, it seems like they’ve all just taken their hair out of either braids or a ponytail. The hair looks like it was not even being worn loose. Even more interesting, is that one of the girls being checked, whose hair doesn’t even seem like it’s too long, has a very noticeable gap between where her knee socks end and her skirt begins, with skin definitely exposed, but it seems like none of the people in charge are even pointing it out to the girl!
100% true i agree all the way .
I feel bad for the girls on the video. Doesn’t anyone think of their feelings? Is that Tznius to post this video of them…. And now it has gone viral…..
Rav Hoffman quotes heavy weight sources
Just read the article and open SA these commentators are very accepted in Klal Yisroel
That is intellectually disingenuous
I will post the sources
אבן העזר א נז
אבן העזר ד לב: ד
Wow have you hit nail on head
Sad you are anonymous
You would make FANTASTIC Mashpia
Inspirational and ever so objectively presented
With her hair exposed????
and this is someone the girls are supposed to look up to and respect???
Rabi Yair, pure silliness! Why not make a “halachic analysis” about school uniforms: Is there a halachic basis for having school uniforms? And if there is such a basis, is this the normative halacha in our circles or not?
Girls are sent home if they are caught out of uniform!
Short hair is the “uniform” of certain schools.
No dangling earrings is what other schools insist on.
What is the problem???!!!
Tr wearing a t-shirt to certain boys yeshivas and you will be sent home.
Same if boy has shoulder length hair!
Analyse that!
Number 25 is spot on. The humiliation caused to the students AND teachers in having this video go viral is awful. Clearly the teacher needs was following school policy. I feel truly sorry for her and her family. This is not something people are likely to forget any time soon. In all honesty, we have our own issues. I truly wonder what positive result the author and col thought could come of posting this online. Only loshon Horah and gossip. And more gossip. So not what we need ever, especially in Chodesh Ellul. May we all recognize our weak points,… Read more »
A great way to turn off a jewish girl from Yiddishkite!! So sad.
Every private school has the right to a dress code, and if a parent doesn’t like it, they are free to school their child elsewhere. But no school has the right to humiliate a child (or parent). If a school has a hair length rule, it can enforce it in private. The way this school enforces its rules is a poor choice And yes, this belongs on COL becuase some Chabad school exhibit that same destructive practice of public humiliation and enforcement of their rules. Especially if a rule is presented as existing to uphold Yiddishkeit, to enforce the rule… Read more »
I went to public school in the 70s/80s- we all knew long hair was pritzus. We wanted to draw that kind of attention to ourselves. You will not see people of importance with that kind of hair. Even the military has strict rules for hair length. For anyone who is bt – note the musical hair. When suddenly long flowing hair became acceptable in the 60s as morality disintegrated.
The article is not about lice
When tznius is taken to the extreme it is also not tznius and adding your own laws is desecrating the real mitzvah so how about dropping the fake laws to feel holy and superior because that’s not true holiness, we are all just humans at the end of the day.
please bring your source where its written 4 inches below the knee.
I think it’s all about LICE and they are just trying to sound, so whatever you want to say.
think of it this way they got big family, and if one kid gets lice all the kids get it. The problem is. that they are blaming it on religion, and that Is the Problem. Just tell the girl the truth.
“we are cutting your hear because we don’t want you to get lice” and with long hear you are much more likely to get lice.
embarrassing a girl in front of her whole class that is not Tznius, they could of took the girl aside and told her that her hair was a little to long, what are they going to think of next
1. The girls don’t look humiliated, they look bemused… no one is hacking at their tresses with scissors on the spot, CV”S. 2. The lady in the snood is clearly receiving instructions/orders, not giving them, so perhaps we should judge her kindly. 3. Since when is it a bad thing for girls to see the chumras of their community or school being followed/enforced? No one is kicking them out of classrooms (ahem) or chasing them down halls – this is clearly being done in an orderly fashion, before the start of the school year, to inform the girls/parents if they… Read more »
We the women who were at the Rebbe’s Farbrengen never heard about 4 inches below the knee or about hair lenghths. It’s a shame that people are mixing up the young generation.Why are we looking in other places and other Seforim when the Rebbe guided us all along.The Rebbe guided US all along in Everything. In one of the Likutei Sichos the Rebbe writes that the Yetzer Hora can wear a Shtreimel, a Kapote and a Spodik.He can come and tell us to do Mitzvohs but it’s coming from another side. Not from a good place! I think all those… Read more »
They want the girls to have shorter hair because of lice.
Yes that’s true.
HOWEVER, the lady wearing a snood/ hat, has her hair sticking out.
That’s assur according to EVERYONE….
To COLLIVE.
We have enough issues in our own shechuna.
Why bring in Lakewood politics to CH……
sick people!!! this girls will never ever forget the humiliation!!
the ladies in the video look disturbed to me! no normal person would do that!
focus on whats important! stop traumatizing girl!
בושה וחרפה!!
“לא תוסף עליו ולא תגרע ממנו” (דברים יג,א) הם שני איסורים דאורייתא. יש רפורמים חילונים שעוברים על איסור דאורייתא “לא תגרע ממנו”, ויש רפורמים חרדים שעוברים על איסור דאורייתא “לא תוסף עליו”. בהרבה ישיבות לא מלמדים שגם “לא תוסף עליו” זה איסור דאורייתא, וממציאים חידושים כל כך נפלאים שאפילו משה רבנו לא ידע מהם. ה’ אמר לאדם לא לאכול מעץ הדעת. אדם הוסיף סייג לדברי ה’ ואמר לחוה גם “ולא תגעו בו”. לאדם היתה כוונה טובה – הוא רצה להרחיק את אשתו מהחטא. הוא רצה שהיא לא תיגע בעץ כדי שלא תתפתה לאכול ממנו. ואז גם אמרה חוה לנחש “ולא… Read more »
Since when is it allowed to embarrass another. its a clear halacha that states that if you embarass someone publicly you dont have a por……. In this video and many other educators in the name of upholding yidishkeit publicly humiliate their students Its something that has no place by yidden in this video the teacher could have taken the children one by one to the side and checked them quietly and told them if they need to shorten their hair but no lets embarrass this girl so that she will remember that in the name of protecting yiddishkeit you are… Read more »
Tznius has halachic guidelines like knees being covered by skirt however most of the art of tznius is the art of not being a center of attention, or to where does one lead another persons attention. Tznius requires body language skills, voice, and dress skills etc a women who covers according to the din yet attracts attention, is not really tznius.
When it comes to skirt length there is a clear consensus amounts poskim, Reb Moshe Feinstein, Reb Shlomo Zalman Orebach, Chacham Ovadia Yosef and the Lubavitcher Rebbe all explained that the skirt to reach four inches below the knee, covering the knee is part of Daas Moshe meaning it is Min HaTorah. The Aibishter is a Kol Yachol and able to give every person the attention they need and keep this Din of covering the knees with a skirt at the same time.
Different communities have different standards. There are some very big rabbonim, Litvish and Sfardic, that forbid a sheitel. Obviously we don’t follow that, but don’t say others are breaking Halacha. They can say the same about you.
We were not allowed to wear our long hair loose & free. It had to be in a ponytail, braid or bun. This doesn’t seem so outrageous to me. Times may have changed, but it shouldn’t have to be for the worst!
Why can’t people just lighten up a bit. These are little girls, not even teenagers. They just like to look pretty
Women are women’s worst enemy. It is not dignified for a girl to stand in line, like a cow, to have her hair measured. Its not tznius, its not dignified, its not how to treat a bas melech. Our generation is one of extremes – from one extreme to another on the pendulum. We have people walking around like perutzos, which are feh and not tznius, and we have the measuring tape and the tznius which is also not tznius. Frumkeit has become so artificial and superficial. Where once we spoke of an ‘erliche yid’ ie a person with integrity… Read more »
I have personally contacted numerous lubavitcher rabanim about this very issue and was told very differently that this author concludes.
In Torah shebaal pe, neviim etc, long hair is considered pritzusdik and not modest. The definition of long hair may be debatable since it is not clearly defined in halacha. However the concept of long loose hair being immodest is clear.
It is wrong to write or post an article like this that is coming to teach a halacha without quoting at least one rav who agrees…
What I this?! An army base?!
coffee+
col comments=
yayyyyyyy
now i just gotta wait for them:)
this is insane! Maybe soon they will start measuring the length and shape of their noses if it’s not too pretty and attractive? so ridiculous!!
The ornaments that little girls are now wearing in their hair not long ago would only be considered for girls’ birthday parties and looks comical. The fluffy headbands etc. , the princess look,bare not modest. I am glad that a school is taking a stand that will teach the girls self respect. That they are beautiful through actions and not hair.
Why put this on here/hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????????????????
This is for the Lakewood school and their business!
the biggest chutzpah, is that the lady checking isnt even wearing a sheitel!!!!!!
she should care about her halachos, which is way more important. a married lady unznius is totally wrong
ITS A SHAME THAT IT CAME DOWN TO THIS WHO IS ALLOWING THIS
ThIs will be Bnos Menachem soon.
I’m just betting how long it will take for it to happen.
Well its a good thing we know that we are chassidim who go lifnei mishuras hadin, we add extra to the shulchan aruch. Enough of our tznius rules and minhagim are not found in the shulchan aruch and we proudly follow them anyways as they are the minhag of the communuty. Minhag yisroel torah hi.
Reb Moshe TZ”L spoke about a very clear hetter for divorced women and what they can do in specific situations. I will not write it here as I do not want to tell people what they can or can’t do. That is the job of our Rabbanim.
I do have to add that as someone who B”H has never really struggled with tznius, when hair length became an issue made me want to throw in the towel on all of it.
taleban