I suggest two possible reasons, although there may be others. Firstly we are required to make Sabbath special, so the bread we eat on the Sabbath has to be extra special. Secondly, it has been suggested that Challah represents the Sabbath bride, and the Jewish people represent her bridegroom, so plaiting them intertwines the two.

When the Israelites were slaves in Egypt they didn't change their mode of dress and become exactly like their captors.  It is thought that this factor merited them being saved in the Exodus.   So the Hassidim believe that if they wear the same clothes as centuries ago, it will protect them against assimilation.  Even modern Jews do this to a modified extent, by wearing different clothes from non Jews;  the yarmulke, the hat, the more conservative and modest attire.

Jewish married women have always been required to cover their hair. In the olden days it was with kerchiefs of some kind, but as women wanted to look more glamorous, they began to look into wigs.  Wigs have looked wiggy for a hundred years or more, it is only recently that the Jewish wig trade has become so sophisticated and the use of European human hair has made the wigs look as good, or even better than the woman's own hair. The Rabbis have started questioning whether these wigs meet the religious requirements of modesty, but since they cover the woman's own hair, however glamorously, I think the Rabbis are onto a loser if they expect women to go back to the ugly wiggy wigs of the past.

This is as a result of several emails from all over the world all asking the same question:

The exact reason to this is unknown, but the most likely explanation is that it is to symbolically build up the grave by adding stones from the surrounding ground. Flowers are not used at a Jewish funeral.

This is a common misunderstanding. The only sects of Jews who dress like this are the Hassidim. Hassidic Jews generally follow the teachings of a particular Rabbi or leader depending on their sect. There is, however, a prohibition against shaving male's sideburns higher than the level of the jawbone. This is tied in with biblical prohibitions against self-mutilation such as tattooes, all-body shaving, piercing etc, as was the custom amongst gentile warriors. The Hassidic long side-curls is this prohibition taken to its extreme.

My family, although Orthodox, is not Hassidic. However, our menfolk don't shave their sideburns short, and they tend to dress rather more conservatively than the average gentile; always keep their heads covered, either by a skullcap, a hat , or both.The women in Orthodox Judaism simply follow a dress code that enourages modesty. This means no sleeveless clothes, low necklines, short skirts, shorts or trousers. Just as the "uniform" of the average teenaged girl is jeans or trousers, so the "uniform"of the Orthodox Jewish teenaged girl is a long skirt with no slit, (often in denim, known as a jean skirt) topped by a long sleeved t-shirt, sweatshirt or sweater. There is even some Rabbinical controversy about skirts that sweep the floor being immodest, but personally I can't see why. Striking colours such as bright red are also considered immodest. The strict letter-of-the-law of modesty has given way to "what is considered acceptable in your town". One of my daughters-in-law recently told me that peep-toe sandals or shoes, even worn with tights or stockings, are considered immodest. This is a clear case (if true) of "what is considered acceptable in your town" because in Biblical times it was perfectly acceptable for women to go barefoot. As far as I am concerned, the jury is out on peep-toe shoes.

The Sabbath, which begins on Friday at sunset and ends on Saturday at dark, is meant to be a day of rest and relaxation. Prohibitions have been laid down that include use of all electrical applicances, driving a car, lighting fires or gas stoves. Cooking is done ahead of the Sabbath and kept hot in ovens which are preset on timers, or on hotplates. Lights are also controlled by time switches. Sabbath laws take up huge volumes of holy texts, and is difficult to know them all properly. The day is spent in family meals, going to synagogue, visiting friends (on foot!) and relaxing with a good book (since tv and radio are not allowed.)

Another common myth. To set the record straight; Orthodox Jews generally live a pretty segregated existence. They seldom go to mixed sex parties, mixed sex dances are not usual, and casual dating is not encouraged. How, then, are they meant to meet members of the opposite sex? When young people want to marry, they are introduced to suitable potential partners by mutual friends or a matchmaker. They then go out on very focussed dates to see if they like each other. Quite often engagements happen within a few days or weeks. This is not an arranged marriage because they are perfectly at liberty to refuse the suggested match. I prefer to call them "arranged first dates" or "assisted marriages". There is usually a fair amount of support for the dating couple during the process. They come home after each date to discuss their feelings and thoughts with their parents, and/or the matchmaker. Often niggly problems can be ironed out this way, which greatly aids the outcome.

Having spoken to several non Jewish young men and women on the net, and to young people of my acquaintance in real life, a common theme emerges. Even though less orthodox Jews who prefer to date casually, may think our customs of "shidduchim" or matchmaking, and arranged first dates antiquated and artificial, they all agree that it seems to work. The system does allow everyone a high statistical chance to marry a suitable life partner; something not so likely in the "hitty missy" world of so called "natural" dating with little or no support involved. There is also far less likelihood of discovering "skeletons in the cupboard" after marriage, as so much investigation and vetting has gone on by the families, before the young couple even meet for the first time.

An Orthodox Jewish wedding is a very beautiful and spiritual event. The bride and groom are married under a "chuppah" or marriage canopy, often in the open air. At the wedding dinner traditionally men and women sit separately, and dance separately too. After the wedding day, there follows a week of "Sheva Brachot" or celebrations, where bride, groom and family go to different people each night for a celebratory dinner.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any other queries; these have been the most commonly asked ones.

My email address is ruthie@ruthiepearlman.com