Wearing a Wig and Putting on Tefillin
Question: There are people that at a young age already start to lose hair and are embarrassed to show it so they put on a wig to cover up the bald spots. Is this considered to be a separation for Tefillin?
Answer: The Gemara Zevahkim (19) when talking about the clothes of the kohen quotes the Passuk “it shall be on their flesh and they shall wear them”, and explains that it is forbidden for there to be any separation between the clothes and the flesh of the kohen. This is learned from the words “on their flesh”, however by Tefillin it does not say on the flesh so maybe it would be permitted to have a separation?
The Rashba says that since it does not say by Teffillin “on the flesh”, if there is a separation it would not invalidate the mitzvah, and even if he were to put the Tefillin on a hat that is on his head, it would still be considered like he has accomplished the mitzvah.
The Rosh on the other hand says that there is no difference between the clothes of the kohen and the putting on of Tefillin, and if there is a separation between the Tefillin and the skin, it is considered as if he has not accomplished the mitzvah.
The Shulhan Arukh compromises between the two opinions and says that if there is a separation between the straps and the flesh it is still considered like he has done the mitzvah, but if there is a separation between the boxes and the flesh, it invalidates the mitzvah and it is considered like he did not do the mitzvah.
Therefore, a wig since it is not part of the body is considered to be a separation and would invalidate the mitzvah if the Tefillin was placed on top of it. However, there is a solution if a person is embarrassed and does not want to take the wig off in the Shul, and that is to put on the Tefillin at home even for just a short while (and even only the Tefillin of the head- because they are considered to be two separate Mitzvot), and then in Shul to put it on regularly.
Conclusion: a wig is considered a separation between the Tefillin and the head and would therefore invalidate the mitzvah. There is a solution that a person can put the Tefillin (even only the Tefillin of the head) at home for a short while, then come to Shul and put on the Tefillin like everyone else.
Written by Rabbi Yitzchak Abitbol
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