JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A group of Chabad women in Israel is urging rabbinical intervention after the price of some premium sheitels, or wigs worn by many married Orthodox Jewish women, climbed to as much as 48,000 shekels (about $16,000), arguing that the cost of what they consider a religious necessity has become unaffordable for many families.

The campaign is being led by attorney Nechama Tzivin of Kfar Chabad, who filed a petition last month with the Beis Din Rabbonei Chabad in Israel seeking rabbinical review of sheitel pricing. According to the Israeli Hebrew-language newspaper Yated Ne’eman, Tzivin is asking the court to determine whether Jewish law permits establishing pricing guidelines for an item she argues has become an essential religious expense for many married women.

Tzivin said Chabad has long encouraged married women to cover their hair with a sheitel, citing the teachings of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. She argues that because demand is largely driven by religious observance, consumers have little choice but to pay rapidly increasing prices.

According to the petition, premium sheitels that once sold for only a few thousand shekels now commonly cost around 30,000 shekels (about $10,000), while the most expensive models can reach 48,000 shekels. Tzivin said the goal is not to prevent manufacturers from earning a profit but to ensure prices remain reasonable and reflect actual production costs.

The petition asks the rabbinical court to consider appointing experts to evaluate manufacturing costs, labor expenses and profit margins before deciding whether pricing standards or other consumer protections are warranted. It also seeks greater price transparency and the availability of quality sheitels at more affordable prices for larger families and households with limited incomes.

According to Yated Ne’eman, the campaign has received support from activists outside Israel, including members of FairWigs, a French advocacy group that says rising sheitel prices have created financial hardship for Orthodox families in Europe as well. The group has called for greater transparency in pricing and wider access to affordable options.

Manufacturers and sheitel professionals have disputed claims of excessive profits, saying the industry’s costs have risen sharply because of the limited global supply of high-quality human hair, higher labor expenses and the extensive handcrafting required to produce custom wigs. They also note that many clients seek highly customized products requiring multiple fittings, adjustments and ongoing service, and that sheitels are also purchased by women experiencing medical hair loss, including cancer patients and those with alopecia.

According to Yated Ne’eman, Tzivin has previously led consumer and religious advocacy efforts involving kosher standards and product labeling. She said she intends to bring similar petitions before additional rabbinical courts representing other Orthodox communities.

The Beis Din Rabbonei Chabad had not publicly responded to the petition as of Tuesday.