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
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 that this question and discussion is being raised by the author with all due respect, as he is proudly related to a long lineage of Satmar Ḥasidim.
The question of dress is directed at the Ḥasidim, mostly European (Ashkenazi), Jews who live in Israel: Why continue to dress as an Eastern European when you live in the Middle East? Why not dress as Moshe Rabaynu (Mosses) or Rambam (Maimonides)? This includes the women, of course. Remember there is a core Jewish principal to follow the minhag ha’makom (custom of the place) and not al tifrosh min ha’tzibbur (to separate oneself from the community).
Throughout history, religious Jews in Israel and the Middle East generally dressed in ways that reflected both local customs and Jewish religious requirements, taking into account tzniut (modesty) and other religious laws. For example, in ancient Israel, men wore long, striped/multi-colored robes, that were influenced by local Semitic styles, while women wore modest robes and head shawls. That style has not changed much through the post-medieval times and even up to today, as can be seen from the dress of many local Druze and Bedouins and even the traditional dress of the U.A.E. and the Saudi people.
Today, Ḥasidic (ultra-orthodox) men are known for their unique style of dress. This includes: the long black coats (bekeshe, caftan); expensive, hot, fur hats (shtreimel, spodik); and other distinctive garments. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Jews in Poland, and surrounding Eastern European regions, often adopted the fashions of the local nobility and upper classes as a way to fit in with their surroundings. Over time, this European style of dress developed into a way that expresses their own distinct communal identity.
The Ḥasidic current “uniform” is a recent cultural and sartorial adaptation. It is only a few hundred years old, relative to the thousands of years of Jewish history. Some style variations have developed between the different Ḥasidic sects that can make it easy to identify them (Ger, Satmar, etc.). For example, Chabad (Lubavitch) Ḥasidim tend to favor a fedora with a distinctive triangle-shaped crease, while non-Ḥasidic "Litvak" Ḥaredim wear a similar style hat but with a single crease down the middle. Some Ḥasidic groups wear round, brim-up hats with no creases, sometimes called "up-hats" or "biber" hats (originally made from beaver felt). Other groups chose other styles, not to mention the positioning that the hat sits on one’s head. The shape, height, brim style, and even the ribbon’s placement can indicate the specific religious sect or community of the wearer.
Old joke: “The Messiah hasn’t come yet because he doesn’t know which hat to wear.”
Let us also remember that Poland has a history of anti-Semitism, and its geographic location is a very cold climate. Which begs the question…why copy the dress of cold-climate, anti-Semitic, Eastern Europeans? Why not adopt a dress code closer to your cultural, historic, and religious heritage that are more adaptive to this Israeli/Middle Eastern climate that you live in?
With some adaptations, Israeli Ḥasidim and Ḥaredim can make that style their own. By doing so it would be a more traditional look for living in our Promised Land, healthier (not overheating in heavy black clothing and better sun protection), and more comfortable (suited to a Mediterranean climate), while maintaining our devout religious standards. The look, of course, can be tweaked for individual each community’s personality. Kitniyot, however, is another issue.
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David S. Levine, MBA. Author “Revolutions: In Their Own Words – What They Really Say About Their Causes” and “Hey Israel – You’re Perfect. Now Change!” (free eBook download). David is a former New York City advertising & marketing executive, and a retired university instructor at Rutgers University. Follow him on X (Twitter): @DavidsLevine
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