Volume 8. Issue 3. • Email Edition • The Shaitel make money, and 2) barber shop droppings. India has two very unique Controversy sources for human hair. One is Reviewed by Horav Yisroel Belsky from combed waste hair (i.e. the loose strands of hair that get tangled in one’s comb or The Market for Human Hair brush). Many people who live in India as a dough conditioner or as an es- n our society, human hair plays do not put the hair in the waste bin sential component in the production a tremendous role in the produc- out of the superstitious fear that the of certain flavors. L-cysteine is an tion of many commercially sold hair might be found by someone they I amino acid which can be extracted know who will use the hair for black items. Most commonly, hair is used in from human hair after it undergoes a the manufacturing of wigs, toupees, magic or curses against them. Instead, hydrolyzed process. L-cysteine makes and hair extensions. These products the hair is given or sold to strangers up about 14% of the hair. This acid are widely used for individuals who who collect the hair for purposes of can also be produced from poultry experience hair loss, either naturally exporting it for the production of hair feathers or artificially, but human hair or as a result of undergoing medical products. Also included in this cate- is one of the most popular sources. treatment ò''ì (e.g. chemotherapy). gory of combed waste hair are barber These products are also commonly Human hair is also used in the shop droppings. used by individuals such as actors, production of suit and coat linings. The second source of hair in In- dia is from temple hair. India has a news reporters, talk show hosts, etc. Sources for Commercially who wish to have a certain appear- number of Hindu temples where peo- Used Human Hair ance. Hair extensions are implanted ple go and shave their hair. The exact into one’s head and blend in with Human hair can be obtained for ritual and motives for this practice will one’s natural hair. Hair extensions commercial production primarily from be part of our discussion. are often used to produce a desired two places across the globe: Europe Some reports have asserted that style which cannot be created solely and Asia. European hair is from the it is not part of the Indian culture to with one’s natural hair. Likewise, they most expensive hair due to its rich cut off hair and sell it for monetary are used to cover up a minor bald quality. India is one of the leading reasons as is the case in Europe. spot. The portion of the wig market exporters of human hair in Asia. After Consequently, the origin of hair that that caters to married Jewish women countries in Europe, India is the sec- comes from India is primarily limited is only a minor segment of the very ond leading exporter of hair in the to the two sources previously men- lucrative international market. world. Indian hair has a very close tioned. Others have contented that Human hair is also very benefi- resemblance to European hair. Two there is a large market of women who cial in the pharmaceutical and food of the major sources in Europe for cut cut off their hair and sell it, but that industries. There is a chemical known human hair are: 1) poor people who the overwhelming majority of hair as L-cysteine that is commonly used cut off their hair and sell it in order to comes from combed waste hair. Please Note: Due to the intricacy of the material discussed in each issue, and the brevity of its treatment, a Rov should be consulted for a final psak halacha. In addi- tion, this publication does not intend to be òéøëî on issues that are a machlokes haposkim. Although we have usually brought the dissenting views in the footnotes, we have selected for simplicity sake to incorporate into the main text the views of the Mishnah Berurah, R’ Moshe Feinstein, R’ Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach and several other preeminent poskim. Please send all questions and comments to 1341 E. 23rd Street, Brooklyn, NY 11210 or email to [email protected] Practices Performed at the provide free food and housing for pil- the Hindu faith who are employed by Tirupati Temple in India grims, as well as to operate five hospi- the temple. Approximately 25,000 pil- tals, twelve colleges and other charita- grims tonsure daily (i.e. half the Prior to discussing the practices ble institutions. amount of the daily attendees at the performed at the Tirupati temple, it is According to Hindu legend, their temple). There is no charge for the vital to mention two points. Firstly, it is lord supposedly came down to earth tonsure. The pilgrims remove their forbidden for a Yid to study the prac- taking the form of a human being. He shoes and leave them outside the tices of other religions. However, when met a princess whom he proposed building. The Kalyana Katta building is doing so is necessary in order to arrive marriage to. He borrowed huge funds located on top of the hill, but is sepa- at a halachic decision, it is permitted. to pay for the costs of the royal wed- rate from the temple building. The ac- Obviously, even in such a situation, ding and agreed to repay it with inter- tual temple only occupies a portion of only the portions of the religious prac- est. Shortly thereafter, he died without the hill. The Kalyana Katta is the larg- tices that are directly related to the ha- repaying the money. The temple in est location for tonsures. There are a lachic question may be studied. This Tirupati is dedicated for the purpose of number of mini barber shops located last point was taken into serious con- raising money to repay this karmic nearby that charge a fee for those who sideration when the following discus- debt. The temple has many boxes wish to avoid the lines at the main ton- sion was prepared. In the following called hundi where people place all sure hall. Additionally, those staying at discussion, we have included some sorts of monetary gifts. We will discuss nearby guest houses and cottages can details that may appear to be inconse- below that the sale of hair is only a request, for a fee, that a private ton- quential. However, as we will attempt small fraction of the temple’s income sure be performed there. to illustrate, all of the information we and that the sale of hair is actually a Most pilgrims have their heads present here is indeed important and relatively new monetary venture in the shaved completely with a razor blade, necessary in order to gain a complete temple. though a practice of cutting only three picture of the practices performed. This locks of hair has recently become will ultimately aid in attaining a clearer Most of the pilgrims begin hiking widespread. While receiving the ton- understanding of the halachic ramifica- up the long and steep hill to the temple sure, the pilgrims sit on the floor with tions of these religious rituals. Sec- in the morning. While hiking up the their legs crossed and they bend their ondly, although there are no footnotes hill, they chant one of their god’s heads forward while chanting or think- for the upcoming paragraphs, exten- names. Upon arriving at the peak of ing their god’s name along with vari- sive research was done to gather this the hill, they perform all sorts of as- ous lyrics. For pilgrims who have long information and all the information tounding practices there. To name a hair and are having a complete ton- recorded here is based on accurate few: Some people begin rolling down sure performed, two long braids are and reliable sources. Some of these a hill chanting all types of lyrics, while made with a ribbon placed on each sources include eyewitness reports, others insert various food items into braid to hold it in place. The braids are official documentations, as well as in- the mouth of an elephant and then cut off and allowed to fall into a small terviews with individuals who are place their heads under the trunk of ditch behind the pilgrim. The rest of knowledgeable and well-versed in the elephant. It is unclear whether the hair is then razed off at the scalp. these matters. In instances where there these practices are performed merely As the hair piles up in the ditch, a were conflicting reports, we will pre- for the pilgrims’ own enjoyment or if group of hair collectors go around col- sent the facts as they were reported. If, they are actual religious rituals. lecting the hair in dustpans and place indeed, some of the information is in- There is a place in the temple the hair in a large metal bin. Once that accurate, we stand corrected and ap- where weddings are performed daily. bin is full, special employees arrive and preciate the feedback of our readers. There is one building where the idol transport the bin to a storage facility. Tirupati is a religious city located undergoes a religious bath and is After receiving the tonsure, the in southeastern India. Tirupati is one anointed with camphor, saffron and pilgrims are directed to immerse them- of the largest religious attractions in all musk. The waiting list to observe this selves in a tank called the Pushkarini.