There are my collection of Documents that I've collected in relation to the current sheitel shailot that are going around.

if you want to send me more, the email address is "username" (the part after the ~) @cs.columbia.edu (sorry for these anti-spam measures)

You can feel free to send me all sorts of things related to this, but if it doesn't inform people about the issues, I probably won't post it to this page. For example, I'm probably not going to post images of people burning them, as doesn't provide any information)

June 10:I moved to seattle a few days ago and started a summer job, so insanely busy for the time being, so if I don't respond to e-mails it's not because I don't see them, but just dont have any free time

Original Links

This is an overview of the shailah in english.

This is Rav Elyashiv's original tshuva from 1990 where he is mattir Indian hair based on his knowledge at the time. Rav Elyashiv states that if the mitzius would change or would be shown to be different than he understood it, the psak could be different.

This is the letter put out by Rav Ephrati describing Dayan Dunner's visit to India

This is the announcement in Bnei Brak by Rav Karelitz and Rav Wosner about the sheitel situation.

This is a list of sheitel companies and their halachik status supposedly put out in the name of Rav Elyashiv.

This is a an announcement from the Machzikei Hadat (Belz) Hasgacha

This is the original NY Times article. NY Times Take 2

Edited June 22:This is a discussion on the FrumTeens message board, the moderator seems knowlegable about the facts, but he has his critics about how he presents the information (See Below)

This is an announcement of the Badatz Eidah Chareidit

This is a pashkavil posted in Yerushalayim

Added May 19

This is the announcement the Gateshead (UK) Community sent out to its members

This is the announcement of Beit Din Rabonei Chabad.

This is Rav Shternbuch's announcement.

This is the announcement from Rav Yosef Belinov, the rav of Merkaz Bnei Brak

This is the Teshuva of Rav Yitzchak Abadi on the issue

This was published by Rav Blumenkrantz in Torah Times on what sheitels he says have no problem at all.

Added May 21

This is the announcement of the Chabad Beis Din in London

Added May 24

This is the announcement of Rav Menashe Klein

Added May 27

This is a teshuva by Rav Volpo (Chabad)

This is the teshuva of Rav Yitzchok Raitport (Chabad)

Added May 31

This is the teshuva of Rav Shternbuch from Teshuvot V'Hanhagot (large 10MB file)

Added June 1

June 10 - Flipped Order: Teshuvot of Rav Chaim Dov Weiss of Antwerp (Satmar) #1 and #2

This is the 2nd letter put out by Rav Ephrati.

This is a letter put out by Rav Elyashiv himself

This is Rav Elyashiv's response to Rav Belsky (see below for Rav Belsky's letter)

This is an article by Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff that appeared in Yated Ne'eman dated Rosh Chodesh Sivan 5764; May 21, '04

This is the most recent teshuva of Rav Shternbuch

This is the teshuva of Rabbi Yisroel Yosef Hendel, Rabbi of the Chabad community in Migdal Haemek

Added June 2

This is the psak put out by the Beth Din of Kollel Beis Talmud L'horuah (Brooklyn, NY). It's the Beis Din of R. Yechezkel Roth. (also includes their psak on the water for those interested)

Edited June 24:This is Rav Belsky's letter to Rav Elyashiv (much cleaner version than before)

Added June 4

This includes 2 additional teshuvot (as well as the first 2) from Rav Chaim Dov Weiss of Antwerp

Edited June 10:This is Dei'ah veDibur's understanding of Rav Elyashiv's psak and the facts as they believe he understood them. They don't go into depth on the other opinions, but that's fair, as they say up front that they are just trying to explain Rav Elyashiv's psak, not anyone else's psak.

Added June 10

Edited June 11: This is the psak of Rav Wosner of Monsey based on conversations with Rav Wosner of Bnei Brak and his own research. As explained to me (haven't read it yet) it says 1) One should not (except b'sha'as hadchak) use a sheitel that was definitely made from hair used in the Indian "temples." 2) One may (l'chatchila?) use sheitels made from other types of Indian hair. 3) Going forward, everyone should be careful not to use "temple" hair. 4) Rav Wosner advises against human hair sheitels in general.

Added June 13

Edited June 22:This is a letter that was originally sent to the FrumTeens moderator and then provided to me which provides more background information, but is more specifically in response to the FrumTeens thread linked above. It has now been responed to on the FrumTeens site.

Added June 14

Haven't had a chance to look at the 2 below yet and unsure if I'll have any time soon, feel free to summerize them for me, as well as fill me in on who the authors are (names are just from the files that were sent me)

This is a document on the subject from a "הרב יצחק סולוויציק"

This is a document on the subject from a "(הרב אליהו אורות (גרינצייג"

Added June 15

This is a tshuva from Rav Menashe Klein

This is more tshuvot from Rav Chaim Dov Weiss

Again, I don't know much about these next 2 beyond the file name, any information about them would be appreciated

This is from a "הרב יצחקי בני ברק"

This is from a "הרב נחום רוטשטין"

Added June 27

This is a 2nd teshuva put out by Rav Raitport

This is a kuntrus on the subject

Added August 16

This is a letter sent our by Rav Yackov Shapiro of the Beis Medrash of Bayswater

Added August 24

This is a large collection of information detailing hindu practice as it relates to the issue of the hair.

Added March 13, 2005

This is a long review of the issue in english published by Tz'eirei Agudas Yisroel under the review of Rav Belsky (If one uses this document, one should donate $2 to Halacha Berurah as that is the normal back issue price. We thank them for letting it remain here. For more information please visit http://www.kehillah.com/torah/hb.asp, or email hbinfo@thekosher.net).