Tell me more ×
Mi Yodeya is a question and answer site for those who base their lives on Jewish law and tradition and anyone interested in learning more. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 1 down vote favorite

I read here about certain Jewish sects prescribing face veil. Is there, in fact, a rule requiring or encouraging covering the faces of women in presence of unrelated men? If so, what is the source for this rule?

share|improve this question
I don't know of any (I know of one face covering -- male, and other kinds of covering for females). What prompted this? Do you have any particular case or text in mind? – Dan Mar 5 at 17:23
hebrewbooks.org/… – Gershon Gold Mar 5 at 17:37
1  
the source NPR article answers your question "Keren claims to have seen an image from 400 years ago of Jewish women covered from head to toe, but Frenkel says experts believe there are no historical references to back up her claims." – Dan Mar 5 at 18:02
3  
I've simplified this down to a question about Jewish law and the source for it. A separate history question could be asked, especially if this question's answer starts with "yes." (@SethJ) – Isaac Moses Mar 5 at 18:36
BTW a bride obviously does cover her face - so if you see such a portrait you have to make sure it's not a wedding portrait. – Ariel Mar 5 at 19:42
show 4 more comments

2 Answers

up vote 1 down vote

I have seen pics from the 1900s and even late 1800s with Jewish women having a hijab type head covering, not niqab

I am pretty sure RaMbaM said for a girl to cover her hair at age 3 because that is when she is sent to the market and is in the public's view. Once married she needs to put a rodid on top of the mitpahath.

(I don't have the source of the top of my head, I am to going to bed now and am typing this from my phone, but whoever knows the RaMbaM, please edit the post and put it in there.) I also have pics to display to show as examples, but that will all be tommorow.

share|improve this answer
There's a bunch of jargon here that needs to be translated. – Isaac Moses Mar 6 at 15:10
xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/16813213/sn/516997047/name/… I assume these are ashkenazic women – MoriDoweedhYaAgob Mar 6 at 16:23
Unless I'm mistaken, you can't see any womens' faces, covered or uncovered, in that picture. – Isaac Moses Mar 6 at 16:26
Browser keeps crashing, I can't link so many pics at once at my college's computer I am assuming. – MoriDoweedhYaAgob Mar 6 at 16:29
1  
I did not look at all of the pictures linked to in your comments, above, DhoweedYaAgov, but certainly many of them do not show covered faces, which was AFAICT the question. – msh210♦ Mar 6 at 19:12
show 12 more comments
up vote 3 down vote

This sect is referred to by many today with a mixture of amusement, frustration, and annoyance. Most will tell you that they are bringing the rules of modesty to an unprecedented extreme for which there is no source nor Jewish tradition.

However, a while ago on the Seforim Blog, Marc Shapiro addressed this sect (which he calls the "Jewish Taliban Women"), and brings many sources that recommend or praise the use of such full-body veil (burqa-like) coverings. I will not reproduce his words here, but his sources include the Jerusalem Talmud (as interpreted by its commentaries), R' Baruch Epstein (1860-1941), and R' Joseph Messas (1892-1974). Additionally, Shapiro lists some contemporary rabbis who have written/spoken in favor of the shawls worn by these women.

share|improve this answer

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.