In a new letter, the Pshvorsker Rebbe, one of the most respected chassidic rebbes in Europe, issued a strong warning against the wearing of shaitels, calling the practice a violation of das Yehudis (Jewish modesty laws).
The handwritten letter, addressed to the women of his community, was released to strengthen standards of tznius.
The letter is highly unusual, as the rebbe seldom puts his thoughts into writing.
“One of the fundamental pillars of the Torah, the splendor and dignity of the chosen nation, is the modesty of Jewish women,” the rebbe writes. “Our holy foremothers, generation after generation, sacrificed greatly for this value.”
He continues: “In our generation, unfortunately, breaches in the wall of modesty have multiplied, most severely in the form of the terrible pitfall of wearing a shaitels. These wigs are forbidden to wear even according to the lenient opinions on shaitels, and those who wear them are transgressing das Yehudis. Tragically, even otherwise women who are kesheiros stumble in this matter due to a lack of awareness.”
The rebbe adds that, at his request, detailed halachic guidelines are being published along with the letter. “Everything written therein constitutes halachic obligations rooted in Torah min HaShamayim and not mere stringencies or acts of piety.”
The rebbe pleads: “I beg of you, from the depths of my heart, take these words to heart. Have mercy on yourselves and your future generations. The matter of modesty is exceedingly grave and weighty.”
Quoting his father, the previous Peshvorsker Rebbe, Rav Yankele Leiser zt”l, he writes: “My holy father once said that perhaps due to the decline in modesty standards, we have not yet merited the coming of Moshiach. So I implore you, Bais Yaakov, let us go and follow in the footsteps of the flock, along the path of modesty—our eternal crown.”
The letter concludes with a heartfelt berachah: “Those who are careful in this matter will be blessed with goodness and kindness, peace and health, and the merit to raise generations faithful to Hashem and His Torah. May this bring the coming of Moshiach closer, with mercy and compassion, speedily in our days.”
A kuntrus distributed in the Pshvorsker community includes specific guidelines regarding acceptable forms of head coverings, emphasizing the inappropriateness of prominent shaitels or even visible scarves worn over shaitels.
It should be pointed out that the gedolei haposkim of past generations, such as the posek hador and Rabbon Shel Kol Bnei Hagolah Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l, and subsequent ones, have unequivocally ruled that wearing shaitels is permitted and is a halachically acceptable head covering for married women.

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