Q&A: Various Things.
Various Things.
Question
Hello Rabbi,
Is a menstruating woman required to cover her hair in front of her husband? And basically, what is she required to cover?
Is she allowed to sing?
Can a woman immerse with nail polish that she does once a month?
Thank you for everything.
If possible, is there a link to an article explaining why the Talmud obligates us and why one cannot disagree with the conclusions of the Sages?
Especially since sometimes it seems like a strained argument or not logical?
What is the approach to all the things like being careful with crumbs because of poverty, fingernails, and “a covenant is made with the lips,” which drags in lots of ominous stuff, God forbid, and spit-spit?
Answer
It has nothing to do with her husband. Hair covering is not for her husband. Inside the home, strictly speaking, there is no obligation to cover the head. There are decisors who prohibit it, but that is a minority religious practice that is not reasonable. The same applies to her singing.
As for the nail polish, as long as it is complete and the woman wants it, it is not an interposition.
I am not familiar with such an article. There is something in Beit Yishai lectures by Rabbi Shimon Fischer, siman 15, on acceptance by the public.
As for warnings about dangers, in my opinion there is no need to be concerned. That is a factual question, and it does not seem that there is really any danger here.
Discussion on Answer
Yes.
I looked in books of Jewish law and they all prohibit it because “a woman’s voice is nakedness.”
What is the reason the Rabbi permits it?
Is it possible to study and pray in view of his wife’s hair at all times?
I don’t know which books you looked in, but there are decisors who permit it.
In the prohibition of seclusion they permitted it with one’s wife because he is used to her. And similarly regarding parts of the body that she normally uncovers in her home (Igrot Moshe, Yoreh De’ah 2, 75). And that seems to me to be the case regarding her singing as well (even though Igrot Moshe there prohibited it, there are other decisors who permitted it).
Wikipedia cites those decisors:
Pardes Rimonim, siman 195, Mishbetzot Zahav end of note 8. And Rabbi Ovadia Yosef ruled this way in his book Taharat HaBayit. Rabbi Avraham Schiff, To’afot Re’em siman 26 note 130.
It should be remembered that in general it seems that most of the distancing rules are reminders of the prohibition, and not distancing rules as a fence lest one come to it directly (perhaps sleeping with her in the same bed is different). Therefore, whatever was not explicitly prohibited has no reason or justification to be prohibited. We are not dealing here with the concern that one may come to do a forbidden act with his wife.
Thank you.
And what about studying and praying in view of one’s wife’s hair at all times?
The Rema in siman 75 prohibited reciting Shema in view of one’s wife’s hair, and in Igrot Moshe, Orach Chayim 1 siman 42, s.v. “Hinei bidvar,” he permitted it. He does, however, write: “Those who fear God should be stringent and turn their faces to another side when saying Shema and the entire order of prayer, and when that is impossible they should close their eyes, for since for themselves they can be stringent, this is not considered a pressing circumstance for them.”
Thank you, but the question is whether the husband is allowed to hear her singing or see her hair when she is menstruating?