Why a Head-covering?
Rabbi Yaakov Yosef
In Parshas Naso the Torah commands the Kohein to uncover the alleged faithless wife′s hair, as it is written: "and let the hair of the woman′s head go loose" (Bamidbar 5/18). From this posuk, our sages learn that it is a mitzvah d′Oraisa for a married woman to cover her hair in a public domain (Kesubos, 72). When a woman is alone in her home and there are no strange men around, she is not obligated to cover her hair. However, when she prays or recites a brocha, she must cover her hair out of respect for the prayer or brocha (Chesed L′Alofim quoting Tzror Hamor).
The men′s obligation to cover their heads is d′Rabonon (Maseches Sofrim). Maran deals with the topic of head covering in several sections of Shulchan Oruch Orach Chaim:
1. It is forbidden to go a distance of four "amos" (cubits) with an uncovered head (chapter 2/6)
2. It is forbidden to pray with an uncovered head (chapter 91/3)
3. It is forbidden to say birkas hanehenin with an uncovered head (chapter 206/3)
In case one did make a brocho without a hair covering, the brocho is valid and does not have to be repeated.
Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, zatzal, wrote in his halachic work "Igros Moshe," in the name of the Achronim, that men must cover most of their head in order to fulfill the obligation of head-covering. Many mistakenly wear small yarmulkes that do not cover most of the head. It is important to know that the halachic requires wearing a large yarmulke that covers most of the head. The color is not important, the size is.
The Gemara (Shabbos 156) explains that the purpose of the head covering is to bring people to fear Heaven. The Gemara relates that when Rav Nachman was born, stargazers told his mother that according to his destiny, he will be a very successful thief. His mother was frightened, and she ran to the Beis Midrash. The Sages suggested that she be scrupulous in keeping his head covered, so that the fear of G-d be upon him. Once she took him to a palm tree grove and his hat fell off for one minute. Rav Nachman quickly climbed a palm tree and cut a bunch of dates, climbed down the tree and handed the dates to his mother. The Gemara brought this story to demonstrate how covering one′s head helps one′s pure fear of Heaven. The moment his head covering fell off, his instinct got the better of him.
We make sure that even little boys keep their heads covered, so that they will be G-d fearing. |
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