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Saturday, 29 Adar I, 5784
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Privacy Zone in the Sheitel

Shternie Lipskier's is a deep red bob, Elana Kornfeld's is a dark brunette and Chani Wuensch's is a lighter brunette. Los Angeles Times on the world of the sheitel. Full Story

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to #36
November 7, 2010 1:44 am

I live “out of town” (e.g., not in CH) and we have a horrendous tznius (or lack thereof ) problem, but no problem whatsoever in buying, wearing and displaying these long, expensive and sooooo aluring sheitels, that make so many (men’s) heads turn. We do have it upside down, don’t we; how can we help these (mostly young) fine, very misdirected women to understand what basic tznius is about? Actually, the sheitel machers are in a position to help enormously to redirect their customers to shorter styles. In the long run (pardon the pun), they will be rewarded in helping… Read more »

love the picture!!
November 6, 2010 3:29 pm

You look great chani! Love, Liza

chanie wuensch the best shaitel macher!
November 4, 2010 10:00 pm

Chanie is honest, fair, friendly and does a great job!
I have had the best experience with her! Keep up the great work!
Her # 818-415-2643.

to #55
November 3, 2010 8:34 pm

in crown heights on kingston and union

how to contact Elana, Shternie, Chani
November 3, 2010 7:32 am

From this article, I think Chani supplies very high quality sheitels with reasonable price. Then how could I contact them, could someone supply cell phone or email and address?
Thank you in advance.

#51
November 2, 2010 7:28 pm

can you be specific where we cna find this place?? thank youy

Kudos to #36
November 2, 2010 5:42 pm

While I don’t wear a sheitel often (I prefer tichels or hats that cover all the hair), the one I have is shorter and tsniusdik purposely. It literally breaks my heart that so many wonderful Chassidishe women are walking around with long, glamorous and – yes – alluring sheitels, lots of make-up and clothing that pushes the boundaries too far.

As a BT, becoming tsnius b’chitzoniut was like a breath of fresh air. Women can be pretty and ‘modern’ without looking like they belong on a non-Jewish catwalk. Hashem Yaazor.

to #36
November 2, 2010 2:45 pm

i also agree with you. whenever i go from israel to CH i hope to see the situation improving, but i get the opposite… let’s do something about it, so that the Rebbe can say “ראו גידולים שגידלתי”.
the question should be – would i meet the Rebbe the way i look? Moshiach is coming in a moment. our meeting with the Rebbe is coming soon as well.
take it into consideration while standing in front of the mirror.
yours,
a young woman that everybody says that she looks good, B”H.

To #36
November 2, 2010 1:37 pm

You said it right!

chani
November 2, 2010 1:28 pm

i got a long gorgeous wig at yaffa on kingston for about only 800. i wear it and love it more then my wig that i paid 2700! i didnt even have to pay to cut it because it came precut! i would highly recommend that place for someone who is looking for an inexpensive long gorgeous wig.

a less expensive option is availabe
November 2, 2010 11:19 am

there are many companies that make a very nice shaitel with good hair, maybe not virgin european (who cares !), but hard to tell that difference, that are in the $750-800 price range: Yaffa, Rebekkah, Jap, I just got a beautiful one 1/2 the price of my custom of $1600 ,and I like the less expensive one better, alot better. It is a shame to have to feel the pressure to pay so much, especially in these hard economic times,,,,I am sure Channie has connections for these less expensive wigs, NY is full of these companies. Currently I am living… Read more »

Go Elana, Shternie, Chani
November 2, 2010 1:58 am

GO CALI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shana
November 2, 2010 1:47 am

The Sheitel Machers mark up the Sheitel at about 25-30% and included in that is the cut. So a sheitel that they get for $1500 they charge around $2000 for. Then they usually cut the sheitel for “free.” Additionally, from what I have heard, you need about 3 peoples hair to create a Shaitel at about $150 each and then you need to pay someone to make the shaitel. Shaitels cost a lot because there are a lot of expenses involved. The Shaitel Machers are definitely not rolling in the ‘dough’. Most of The Shaitel machers that I know who… Read more »

rip off
November 1, 2010 11:27 pm

When you start doing research as to how much sheitels cost from the manufacturer…its sick how much we have to pay!! A 100% human hair shaitel doesnt cost more than $100-$200 from the manufacturer. double it for the wholesale price – $400, double it again for the shaitel machers price – $800. We shouldnt be paying more than that for a long beautiful human hair shaitel. I have heard that sheitel machers mark up about n$1000 each shaitel!!!!!!!!!1 its highway robbery. How do you mark up something 400% for something that people really need?! and then charge $300 to cut… Read more »

#44 Kimchis
November 1, 2010 6:56 pm

Please get your facts straight!
Kimchis’ sons did not die, one after the other, as #44 implied.
The son who was the real Kohen Gadol, at different points in his life, was unable to serve in the KH”K on Yom Kippur for different reasons. Either because he became Tamei because he had to meet with a goyishe king shortly before Yom Kippur, or other reasons. Each of these times, he was substituted by a different brother. In other words, each one of Kimchis’ sons served as Kohen Gadol.

#44 - response
November 1, 2010 6:49 pm

your comments are insidious and ignorant

Kimchis’s children did NOT die so the next one can serve; they were substitute cohanim gedolim and served the avodah when the originally appointed one became Tameih.

Who are we to judge the greatness of people, and to squander your childs chances of gadlus.

Perhaps the story is mentioned to show that every single woman can acheive what Kimchis did.

#14 Kimchis
November 1, 2010 6:19 pm

Kimchis “merited” to see seven sons become Kohanim Gedolim. This merit means that each one of these sons died (there can be no new kohen gadol before the previous one dies). Further, surely many women were tzadeikes covering their hair properly and surely they too did not allow the poles of their house to see their hair, yet they did NOT have even one son become kohen gadol?! Finally, the fact that the story is told as an extraordinary conduct of Kimchis, implies that normal frum behaviour is not so extreme. That such conduct is unusual and well beyond the… Read more »

#36
November 1, 2010 5:42 pm

Couldn’t have said it better!! And as one who lives amongst the goyishkeit mentioned in a previous comment, know, that it behooves us lubavitcher women to hold strong to our tznius ESPECIALLY amongst this trash. And what better message can we send to our sons and daughters then one which will ultimately give them the strength to stand up against this in their own homes!

#26
November 1, 2010 5:41 pm

there is no reason to get political! you can ask any Rov u want!

crownheightser
November 1, 2010 5:25 pm

sheitlach ARE very expensive, therefore, in brazil, yaffie Begun established a sheitel gmach for poor kallahs, and others who are beginning to cover their hair. This was per Esther Alperns AH instruction that a kallah must look and feel beautiful after her wedding, and it should davka be a “human hair” sheitel, not synthetic, since she will be keeping this mitzva every day of her life, and it is of utmost importance that it looks good and beautifies the wearer…also, sheitel machers please not: for those who are strapped for cash, how about pushing sheitlach that people left bec. it… Read more »

to #36
November 1, 2010 4:58 pm

very well said

save$
November 1, 2010 3:12 pm

go to alibaba .com – sheitels go for about $200.

so why are the costing us $1000 and up. its highway robbery!!!

MENDY
November 1, 2010 2:23 pm

GO MENDY WUENCH

Go Chanie!!!
November 1, 2010 12:51 pm

Guys I highly recommend Chanie if you are in need of a Sheitl. She is honest, kind and so good to work with!!

A Lubavitcher Woman
November 1, 2010 12:42 pm

I think the article is written very well and the major point is having a sheitel discussed out in the open for anyone to read about. However, I have a question and would really appreciate seeing answers to it. Why is it that somone would pay $1,000 or $2,000 or more for a gorgeous, long shaitel, and then dress in very non-tziniusdike clothing – on purpose – as if the halacha of how one dresses has been thrown ‘out-of-the-window’ and doesn’t matter anymore? Do the girls and married women of today (many of whom originate from Crown Heights and went… Read more »

need a sheitel?
November 1, 2010 12:15 pm

by far the best place to get a shitel nowadays is savvy

i think its savvysheitels.com

to #24
November 1, 2010 12:12 pm

You write: “why is that any time something really nice and positive happens, people criticize? This is the finest article I have ever seen on the Shaitel – Kol Hakavod!!! This will surely help women make that decision” You are right that it is a great kiddush hashem etc. and will hopefully encourage others etc. I don’t see any misplaced criticism here, though…Personally, I am a positive person who dislikes to say anything negative–but when a public article is posted which may MISLEAD innocent women into thinking a certain way, I think it’s important to set the record straight, so… Read more »

to #16
November 1, 2010 12:09 pm

Read it again, I said: “If one is not up to that yet, it’s certainly not something to advertise… ” i.e. if one doesn’t feel up to the level of fulfilling the Rebbe Rashab’s tzava’ah, she shouldn’t advertise it. Not that we shouldn’t advertise the tza’va’ah itself, obviously!

price
November 1, 2010 11:45 am

29 is right.
this article articulates what a good service these people are doing.
the way I see it is, they are just cashing in on a good opportunity to make money – The prices have becoming so outrages I have even heard people where thinking of getting a sheitel but where put off by the price-is that what we are trying to do!?

what's the actual markup?
November 1, 2010 10:50 am

Is it the sheitel machers who are overcharging or the manufacturers? I’d love to know the breakdown of the markups. It is truly outrageous that a $2,000 sheitel can only be expected to last three years.

price
November 1, 2010 9:09 am

29 is right. I think the prices are outragious! Is it the fault of a girl that has no money that she cannot look as nice as her friends? How many more poor girls sacrifice everything just so others won’t know that she could not afford a gorgious sheitel ???????????? Sheitlach are not a matter of choice and a kalla h deserves to feel as beautiful as any other! I think that we force down the prices by refusing to buy any sheitle above a certain price. (perhaps $500.00) We’ve got to help our girls!!!!!!!!!! Even after payng such a… Read more »

price
November 1, 2010 6:24 am

nice article.
what i would like to see is a reduction in price.
i think a Sheitel should be something that is affordable to everyone.
if we are talking about the importance of wearing a sheitel,
the first step is putting the price in reach for the norover the passed few years the price for a sheitel has gone sky high,
people have taken the need for a sheitel and cashed in on it, and now most people cannot afford the craze high prices.

halacha
November 1, 2010 5:00 am

While the article was well written I agree with no 5. There is a difference between shaving the hair and keeping it short for halachic purposes. The comment in no 13 quoting the Alte Rebbe, I suspect Protestuth too much .

Go Chanie!!!!!
November 1, 2010 1:03 am

From your fans in Israel!

Lovely article but...
November 1, 2010 12:53 am

speak to Rebbetzin Rifkah Slonim for the actual sicha or Rav Schwei for the actual halacha

the minhag of shaving
November 1, 2010 12:21 am

This homorable minhag comes from a very dark period in history for the Jews. A king made a law that the Jewish married women couldn’t cover their hair anymore, so that his own ‘men’ could choose from among the loveliest of them as war trophies. If they covered their hair they would be severely punished or killed, so they decided to make themselves as unattractive as possible & shave their own heads – also to stay within the halacha of not showing any hair as a married woman. It is the descendants of these original righteous women who continue this… Read more »

So many critics,,,
October 31, 2010 11:32 pm

I dont know any of the women mentioned in the article, but why is that any time something really nice and positive happens, people criticize? This is the finest article I have ever seen on the Shaitel – Kol Hakavod!!! This will surely help women make that decision. There is no Halacha about the length of a womans hair = this is minhag = and I think that is what the women featured were trying to explain. Please, people, dont throw out the baby with the bathwater. It is a great article. End of Story. Kudos and Yasher koach to… Read more »

Chani is the best!
October 31, 2010 11:32 pm

Chani is a very honest sheitle macher, more concerned to have a happy client then to make a sale! Wonderful experience!

What a Hairy situation!
October 31, 2010 11:32 pm

I am a man and am so inspired by the spirit of this article I am now thinking of getting fitted for a sheitel 🙂 Chanie is the most talented and more importantly, the most honest sheitel macher around.

Thanks Chani
October 31, 2010 11:11 pm

Thanks Chani for your wonderful service with a friendly, warm touch. You made the experience much easier than expected. May you see much more success in all you do.
Hadas from SF

contact info
October 31, 2010 11:09 pm

Her contact info is 818-415-2643 or email her at [email protected].

you are mistaken
October 31, 2010 11:05 pm

Chabad custom is not to shave; but the rebbe rashab wrote in his tzava’ah to keep the hair about two finger widths long, if I’m not mistaken.
The mistake is that the 2 finger length is a minimum, not a maximum!
(and is it 2 fingers wide or 2 fingers long?)

shaitel
October 31, 2010 11:01 pm

To #16-Yes this was a positive article and represented well.Thing is you must understand that a jew must never underestimate the beauty of a hidur mitzvah.Especially as a lubavitcher where the essence of our lives stem from being meticulous in the way we do our mitzvos. You can open up any sicha or get info from the internet on the whys and details of mitzvos and minhugim. Wear your shaitel proudly and with knowledge. Moshiach now

Happy Client
October 31, 2010 10:01 pm

Chanie is by far the best person I ever dealt with concerning my wig. She is reliable, quick and always does a great job. I would recommend her to anybody.

to shave or not to shave that is the question
October 31, 2010 9:44 pm

People don’t get so hooked up on these little details…#14 after saying not to advertise it you go and advertise it….any this is a beautiful article and you don’t know what it is like living in LA with all the goyishkeit all around you…this is amazing and wonderful and big kiddush hashem that they got it on the front page of the LA Times and it was portrayed in a nice and hip way

contact?
October 31, 2010 9:40 pm

We will be in LA soon – need a Sheitel desperately – Could someone provide a contact # pleaseThanks in Advance

Hair length
October 31, 2010 8:55 pm

Beautiful article, but contains important inaccuracies. Chabad custom is not to shave; but the rebbe rashab wrote in his tzava’ah to keep the hair about two finger widths long, if I’m not mistaken. If one is not up to that yet, it’s certainly not something to advertise… The rebbe explains that this way it’s easier to keep it covered and also easier for mikvah purposes. In addition, the Rebbe stressed the story of kimchis, who never uncovered her hair even before the poles of her home (i.e. when she was alone) and then merited to have seven sons serve as… Read more »

GREAT ARTICLE
October 31, 2010 8:53 pm

JUST FOR THE RECORD, THE ALTER REBBE DOES NOT CONDONE A WOMAN SHAVING HER HEAD, AS THAT WOULD MAKE HER “MIYUS” IN THE EYES OF HER HUSBAND. THE INTENTION OF THE SHAITEL OR HAIR BEING COVERED IS NOT TO MAKE HER LOOK REPULSIVE TO HER HUSBAND.

SHAITEL
October 31, 2010 8:48 pm

chabad custom is not to shave

nice
October 31, 2010 8:44 pm

sooooooooooo cute good for them!!!!!!!

the Rebbe said
October 31, 2010 8:09 pm

that one should not keep their hair under their sheitel very long
plus I agree with number 5
In general though, a very positive article

Love it
October 31, 2010 7:44 pm

Modest hip ladies beautifully explaining an oft misunderstood mitzvah.

For the record, “wearing a sheitel has a profound psychological affect on the woman wearing it” it should read “effect” rather than “affect.” Correcting the LA Times’s grammar is fun.

Mari Co
October 31, 2010 7:08 pm

Very nice

YAYY!!
October 31, 2010 6:54 pm

GO CHANI AND ELANA!! THTS SOO COOL, THEYRE ON THE FRONT PG OF LATIMES.COM 😉

stunning
October 31, 2010 6:32 pm

a talented writer, who makes her experience personal, and conveys that in her writing.
A beautiful article on a beautiful topic

not accurate
October 31, 2010 6:13 pm

It is not a mistaken belief that Hasidic women shave their hair because they do, and it’s not infinitesimal numbers who do so. Thousands of women in Chassidic communities in the US, Canada, Europe and Israel do so. Not sure that we need to dismiss them and their practice in our desire to sound “normal.”

Nechama--long beach, ca
October 31, 2010 6:05 pm

I’m not surprised by this positive article. You have made me look and feel like a regal queen when I had you style my shaitel. I highly recommend you.

Go Chanie and Elana!
October 31, 2010 5:31 pm

such a beautiful article!

nice
October 31, 2010 5:18 pm

well written, positive article with a beautiful take on kisui rosh.

good stuff
October 31, 2010 5:14 pm

absolutely beatifully written-both in words and content

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