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Torah · 4:42

Why Do Married Jewish Women Cover Their Hair? Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein

1.8K views · Jul 12, 2026

Hidabroot - Torah & Judaism

An explanation of the tradition and values behind married Jewish women covering their hair.

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Why do married Jewish woman cover their hair? In traditional Judaism, you may have noticed >> [music] >> that once a woman gets married, they cover their hair. >> [music] >> They cover their hair with all different types of coverings. Some with kerchiefs, [music] some with hats, some with a wig, but [music] it is covered. They would not leave their homes into the public arena without covering their hair. This tradition became a law thousands of years ago, >> [music] >> and that is the rules and laws of modesty. Modesty is [music] very important in Judaism. Modesty, the way a woman dresses and the way a man dresses, [music] requires a level of respect of yourself, a respect of your family, respect of your marriage, and respect of God. [music] In Judaism, we are taught when we wake up and we spend our day, >> [music] >> we are always in the presence of God. Now, how would you dress in the presence of God? Wouldn't you dress respectfully, as if [music] you were standing in front of a king, as if you're standing in front of some giants? You would respect them by dressing dignified in [music]

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  1. 0:00Why do married Jewish woman cover their hair? In traditional Judaism, you may have noticed >>…
  2. 0:30without covering their hair. This tradition became a law thousands of years ago, >> [music] >>…
  3. 1:00respect of your marriage, and respect of God. [music] In Judaism, we are taught when we…
  4. 1:31a modest way. So, modesty is actually a law in Judaism that men and women >>…
  5. 2:03they did not change the clothes. In other [music] words, that the way we dress is…
  6. 2:33>> [music] >> their spouse in a union, which they then become a one body, because…
  7. 3:04their modesty, their beauty belongs only to their husband. Our sages have taught us the beauty…
  8. 3:36husband. And that is why traditional >> [music] >> observant woman would cover their hair after…
  9. 4:08beauty belongs at home, >> [music] >> not outside there. The beauty of a Jewish woman…

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