Head covering for Jewish women

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/head-covering-for-jewish-women

Step 2 · Questions

1. From the article, write the contemporary practice:
2. From the article, write the key terms in practice:
3. Why do married Jewish women cover their hair?
4. What does the word "ervah" mean?

Step 3 · Words to know

Write what each word means, using the article.

Erva
Kol Isha
Rabbinic Ordinance

Step 4 · Two facts in your own words

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Cite your source

Head covering for Jewish women. Small Whale. https://smallwhale.org/articles/head-covering-for-jewish-women. Accessed 2026-09-23. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Answer key (teacher copy)

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. From the article, write the contemporary practice:Predominantly observed by Orthodox Jewish women, with diverse styles and community variations
2. From the article, write the key terms in practice:Tzniut (modesty), ervah (concealment), kol isha (woman's voice, related to modesty)
3. Why do married Jewish women cover their hair?Jewish law says a woman's hair is a part that should be hidden to keep modesty and keep attention for her husband.
4. What does the word "ervah" mean?It means a part of the body that should be hidden.

Erva: A Hebrew term referring to parts of the body considered immodest and requiring concealment in Jewish law.
Kol Isha: A halachic concept related to the modesty of a woman's voice in public.
Rabbinic Ordinance: A law or custom enacted by rabbinic authorities, often to reinforce or clarify biblical commandments.