Now Hair This

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So by now you've heard the news. It even made the front page of Friday's New York Times. (Below the fold but still the front page.) So it seems the Indian hair used in wigs sold around the world is often first used for idol worship practices. Therefore Jews can't derive any benefit from them.

It's a proud commentary on the commitment of G-d fearing Jewish women. Bonfires fueled by the wigs in question erupted in Israel as soon as the ban was issued. Similarly on the streets of Borough Park, Jewish women could be seen only in snoods this past Shabbat. The collective price tag for this ban will easily be well in the millions of dollars, but when it comes to idolatry G-d fearing Jews just don't take any chances.

With this in mind, as a public service, Kumah! presents a small section of the Talmud taken from Tractate Kethuboth, 110B:

Out Rabbis taught: One should always live in the Land of Israel, even in a town most of whose inhabitants are idolaters, but let no one live outside the Land, even in a town most of whose inhabitants are Israelites; for whoever lives in the Land of Israel may be considered to have a G-d, but whoever lives outside the Land may be regarded as one who has no G-d. For is it said in Scripture, To give you the Land of Canaan, to be your G-d. Has he, then, who does not live in the Land, no G-d? But [this is what the text intended] to tell you, that whoever lives outside the Land may be regarded as one who worships idols. Similarly it was said in Scripture in [the story of] David. For they have driven me out this day that I should not cleave to the inheritance of the L-rd, saying: Go, serve other gods. Now, whoever said to David, Serve other gods?? But [the text intended] to tell you that whoever lives outside the Land may be regarded as one who worships idols.