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Covering Hair at Home

1) If it's permitted in the period from Rosh Hodesh Av until 10Av to drive to the Lake out of city for immersion in the Lake?
2) When it's permitted for a woman to uncover her head? Can she do it when she is alone with her husband? Can she remove a head cover for swimming in the lake?

Answer:

1) One should not go swimming in the Nine Days, but it is permitted to immerse in the lake for purposes of purity, with the exception of Tisha Be'Av itself. This year, it is permitted to do so even on Friday.

2) It is worthy practice for a woman to cover her hair even at home, even when alone with her husband (but not in times of intimacy) -- but there is no obligation to do so. While a niddah, it is better to keep hair covered, even at home.

If the lake is a private place, it is permitted to be there with uncovered hair. Of course, for immersion there is no choice but to take off one's hair covering.

For purposes of niddah, one should generally ensure to use a valid mikva, with an attendant who certifies the immersion.

Best wishes.

Sources:

The Shulchan Aruch rules that a husband may not see the “covered areas” of his wife while she is a niddah. This would be the reason why some married woman are particular to cover their hair when they are niddahso that their husbands will not see it.
However, the Iggros Moshe (Yoreh De’ah 2:75) rules that one may be lenient in this matter — if a woman does not cover her hair at home in other times, the husband will not be induced to improper thoughts by seeing her hair during the time she is niddah. He nonetheless writes that it is worthy to be stringent.
Some quote Rav Elyashiv as being stringent on this matter, and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach as having been lenient (Mareh Cohen).
In general, there is no obligation to cover hair at home, or in private places, but the Gemara mentions a virtuous practice of doing so, and this is strengthened by Kaballistic sources.

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3 Comments

  1. The makubalim are seemingly also makpid on this during tims of intimacy as well, no?

    1. Surely not, for according to the mekubalim both partners must be entirely without clothes, and this will include the head covering.

  2. That point I'm familiar with however I don't see why that should include the hair as well which I understood that chassidim are quite makpid on even in such situations. Perhaps I misunderstood...

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