SOME CORE JEWISH VALUES/PLUS WHY WOMENS HEADCOVERINGS.....
#1--
PIKUACH NEFESH--THE SAVING OF A LIFE
Probably the highest value in Judaism, lifesaving is a mitzvah (good deed) so important that it must be pursued relentlessly,
even at the expense of, for instance, breaking the Sabbath. An act devoted to saving a life is to be prized above all.
SHITUF BETSA'AR--EMPATHY
Placing oneself temporarily in the interior world of another person, being aware of and responsive to the feelings
of others is more easily done when those others share our characteristics and culture; more difficult with strangers from
alien backgrounds. Shituf Betsa'ar dictates that the other person's individuality is to be prized as much as we would with
him or her to prize our own individuality.
CHESED VE'EMET--RESPONDING WITH LOVING-KINDNESS
The biblical concept of Chesed ve'emet requires responding to fellow human beings with loving-kindess and truthfulness
or integrity.
EMET is the principle of truth and integrity no matter how difficult or painful these may be. And, first of
all, honesty with ourselves.
CHESED-loving kindness-requies human compassionate care.
KOL YISRAEL AREVIM ZEH BAZEH--EACH JEW IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY JEW
This mitzvah should shape relations not only with fellow Jews, but also with humanity in general, especially our children.
BIKKUR CHOLIM-CARING FOR THE SICK
One of the most important olbigations in Judaism, this mitzvah promises continued reward. As with all mitzvot,
visiting the sick is not a one-off "good deed". the true reward for performing any mitzvah is the opportunity to do another.
(from Zola Levitt Ministries....www.levitt.com)
#2-WHY WOMENS HEADCOVERINGS?
FIRST BECAUSE G-D SAYS SO IN CORINTHIANS....(the following is from messianics....)
I Corinthians 11:10 states, "Therefore, the woman ought to
have a symbol
of authority on her head, because of the angels."
Strong indicates that the Greek for woman refers to, "A woman,
specifically
a wife; a woman; be married." (#1135 gune, sdginomai).
Angels has a question mark and is unclear (# 2465 or 2432; issagelos
similar
to angel/angel-like). The Greek for veil is "katakalupetai"
which suggests a veil that hung down.
Gablein states that a woman praying and prophesying is to
have her head covered or a covering on the head. A covering
on the
head is an outward sign of being in the place of subjection. Another
reason is given why praying women should
wear outwardly, as sign of
subjection, because of the angels. Angels are watchers and attendants
of heirs of salvation.
The church is known to them and (Ephesians
3:10) so they observe Christian worship. Angels themselves are in
subjection
and yields obedience.
Wycliffe Bible Commentary states, "The word for angels in the
expression 'because of the angels' does not refer to
elders. Nor does
it refer to evil angels (Genesis 6:1-4). It refers to good angels who
are present in worship meeting
s since they live in the presence of god
(I Corinithians a4:9; Luke 14:7,10l Ephesians 3:10; I Timothy 5:21;
Psalms
138:1). The insubordination of women in refusing to
acknowledge the authority of their husbands would offend angels who,
under
god, guard the created universe (Colossians 1:16, Ephesians
1:21) and know no insubordination." (Pg. 1247-1248)
For the counsel concerning veiling of women in public worship
there were three reasons: 1. theological reason, 2.
Biblical reason,
3. physical reason. "In the final analysis, the hat or veil is not the
important thing, but the subordination
for which it stands. The
presence of both is ideal."
According to Detweiler, the commandment had a four fold purpose:
1. It is a witness of obedience
and dedication to god
and Messiah, for it reveals a desire to fill the sphere
of life designated by god's order.
2. It is a witness to man challenging him fill his place.
3. It is a witness in the Christian brotherhood, for
the spirit and attitude of voluntary submission
it
represents enables woman to fulfill her place in the
church.
4. It is a witness to the world, to a society that
disregards Scriptural truth and practices, and that
does not recognize god's order.
....god is concerned about the attitude of our heart and one of
the ways it has been
evident is the mention of head coverings. It has
obviously connected itself with many aspects of womanhood and has
symbolized
modesty and submission to one's husband, "that you should
remember the "lord", your god."
The covering signifies that the Christian woman is in a
relationship where her brothers care for
her as Messiah
cared for the church. The covering then should be an
attractive
symbol of a beautiful relationship existing
between Christian brothers and sisters.
Let us be careful
for god looks on the intentions of the
heart (Hebrews 4:12). We are not to be as the Pharisees and Saducees,
who flaunted
outward religion without reason or conviction of heart.
Was this a sign of divine origin from the beginning of time? It
was
mentioned in all Scripture from the earliest time, and was threaded
throughout the history of every culture. How
much should we be
influenced by our culture styles and fashion? Our responsibility is
keeping, in proportion, ourselves
to the Word of god and our obedience
to Him.
If we do accept head covering for ourselves, is it not a sign of
freedom
and a sign of our betrothal to Messiah and man? Let every
man be convinced in his own mind (Romans 14:5).
We need to
realize that we are free when we do not have to submit
to an unholy inner drive to prove our equality to men, but rather
realize,
"How gentle god's commands; How kind his precepts."
(Psalms 119).
AND FROM THE JEWS--
a) She demonstrates submission to G-d's wishes: When wearing a headcovering a woman conceals this natural
source of attraction from the eye of the public and thereby demonstrates that she is a servant of G-d. She places His wish,
that an eshet ish (a married woman) covers her hair and conceals
it from the view of the public, above her own natural desire to look attractive and enhance her appearance by displaying her
natural hair.
b) She demonstrates the purity of Jewish family life: The headcovering symbolizes the kedusha (holiness) of the Jewish family, in which the wife dedicates her life
to her husband to the near-total exclusion of any form of contact with other men. She therefore withholds the chen (beauty) of her hair from the view of the general public.
....
g) The difference between a married woman and an unmarried girl: The Torah allows a girl to appear in public
with her hair uncovered although it adds considerably to her chen (beauty)
and demonstrates her natural good looks whilst the Torah considers it pritzut (licentiousness) for a married woman to do so. As mentioned previously, even the Umot
HaOlam (the righteous non-Jews) understood this and expected their wives to cover their
hair in public - see Sanhedrin 58b. A married woman is an eshet
ish and this warrants that part of her beauty be withheld from the public eye. Although she should dress pleasantly
and graciously in a manner with reflects her simcha (joy) and
nobility, she should not display her full natural chen for everyone to see.
On the other hand, an unmarried girl need not mask part of her natural chen and may allow
her hair to reflect her natural good looks (although not in way that draws attention to herself). An unmarried
girl is not an eshet ish and there is therefore no need for her to cover her hair to withhold part of her chen from the public
eye. Also, her good appearance can aid in finding her future partner in life. There is therefore a positive reason
for her hair not to be covered and hidden - see Ketubot 53b and Mekorot 28:3-7
LINKS FOR WOMEN----http://www.happyheadwraps.com/.......http://www.tznius.com/cgi-bin/tying.pl
....http://www.modestclothes.com/jewish/hats-snoods-berets-tiechel-sheitel.html
LINKS FOR MEN--
