Why do Ḥasidim in Israel still dress in the style of the 18th Century Polish aristocracy? (Revised)
Revised article for Arutz Sheva/Israel National News The Jewish people as a whole have an amazing list of incomparable accomplishments: a return to their ancient homeland and creating a modern Jewish theocratic democracy; revitalization of their ancient language; repeated defeats of more powerful armies in many defensive wars; an influx and integration of Jews from a 2,000 year long global exile; and much more. These great accomplishments result in the realization of Jews and Israel rebuilding an Am Eḥad (one nation) and Mispaḥah Eḥad (one family), regardless of custom (Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Mizrachi, Beta Israel), different levels of religiosity (from secular to Ḥasidic to Secular), or ethnicity (Eastern European to Ethiopian). Yet each ethnic, cultural, or geographic group has made some adjustments in diet, language, community, and climate, to adjust to living in an Israeli/Middle East environment. Except for perhaps one. Before we start, it should be noted th...