Why Do Jewish Women Cover Their Hair?

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In this episode of Dear Rabbi, we answer a question about a distinctive Jewish practice: Why do some Jewish women cover their hair? For this episode, my wife Sarah Lehrfield shares her personal perspective as a Jewish woman who covers her hair. Sarah explains that hair covering marks a significant transition in a woman's life as she enters marriage. The unification of souls is an essential part of this transition, which for centuries and even today involves the first experiences with intimacy.

This transformation makes a woman aware of what her body is capable of and the power her physical feminine presence holds. She discusses how a woman can sometimes get distracted by the gift of her own sensuality and begin to identify herself more as a body than as a person with a mind, thoughts, opinions, personality, gifts, creativity, and intellect. It's easy to forget her prime identity, her soul, her internal and most valuable self. Many women find joy and benefit in covering their hair for different reasons.

For Sarah personally, covering her hair reminds her that her body is always secondary to her soul and that she wants to continue projecting to the world the parts of herself that matter most: her character, wisdom, and inner qualities rather than just her physical appearance. When a woman comes home and lets her hair down, she enhances the sacred, private, intimate connection with her spouse, the one person with whom there's no risk of being seen as anyone other than who she truly is.

Sarah concludes with a beautiful parallel: A man covers his head to remind him of what is above him (God), and a woman covers her hair to remind her of what is within her (her soul).

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