Yahudiliğin Erken Dönemlerindeki Örtünme Geleneği Üzerine Bir İnceleme

In the old Jewish tradition, women had to cover their entire body from shoulders to ankles. In order to comply with the conditions of modesty, they also covered their heads and faces in the presence of strangers. This tradition mainly comes from the teachings of the Talmud. As a matter of fact, only heathen women are allowed to go out bear-headed. Being bear-headed was forbidden and considered as disorderly and immoral conduct. If a woman disobeys this old Jewish ordinance, such violation leads to divorce and forfeit her right to receive a dower. On the other hand, married women are required to cover their faces in the presence of strangers. This act of veiling markes the the transition from girlhood to womanhood. According to the Biblical and Talmudic sources, some traditional customs of the Israelities and of the Jews of Palestine bore striking similarity to those of neighbouring peoples. We are of the opinion that the Jewish women’s clothing in the early stages of the Jewish history partly takes its source from the religious sources, and partly from the surrounding cultures.