Tichel

The tichel (Yiddish טיכל tikhl), also called a mitpachat (Hebrew מִטפַּחַת miṭpaḥat), is a headscarf worn by many married Orthodox Jewish women in compliance with the code of modesty known as tzniut. Tichels can range from a very simple plain color cotton square with a simple tie in the back to very elaborate fabrics with very complex ties using multiple fabrics. As with any other form of clothing, the tichel is influenced by fashion.

Tradition

After the wedding ceremony, “Erusin”, some Judaic traditions state that the woman may only show her hair, which is viewed within Orthodox Judaism as a sensual and private part of a woman’s appearance, to her husband in privacy. This is considered a sign of the bond between husband and wife.

Torah

According to the Torah, the priest uncovers or unbraids the accused woman's hair as part of the humiliation that precedes the ceremony testing for an unfaithful wife (Numbers 5:18). From this, the Talmud (Ketuboth 72) concludes that under normal circumstances hair covering is a biblical requirement for women.