Why Do the Heradim Wear Funny Hats

Fur chapeau worn by Hassidic Jewish men

A rabbi dressed in shtreimel, Jerusalem

A shtreimel (Yiddish: שטרײַמל shtrayml , plural: שטרײַמלעך shtraymlekh or שטרײַמלען shtraymlen ) is a fur lid worn by some Ashkenazi Jewish men, mainly members of Hasidic Judaism, on Shabbat and Jewish holidays and other festive occasions.^[1] In Jerusalem, the shtreimel is also worn by Litvak Jews (not-Hasidim who belong to the original Ashkenazi community of Jerusalem, also known equally Perushim). The shtreimel is mostly worn afterward wedlock, although it may exist worn by boys after bar-mitzvah age in some communities.

History [edit]

There is speculation surrounding the origin of the shtreimel. Different theories concord that it is of Tatar, Turkish, Russian, or Polish^[2] origin, only it is not possible to found a clear chronology.^[3] A common view is that the shtreimel was adapted by Jews living in Europe equally a warm wintertime hat,^[4] perchance inspired by nobility;^{[5] [2] [half-dozen] [7]} the shtreimel is comparable in construction to fur hats historically worn by nobles or gentiles across Europe, Scandinavia and Russian federation.^{[viii] [9]} According to the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw, the shtreimel could come from a flow in the 17th century when Oriental costumes were considered stylish by the nobility of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (Sarmatism).^[9] One legend says that the initial reason for adopting the shtreimel was that the Jews were forced to wear an animal tail every bit a public humiliation.^[4]

Types of shtreimels [edit]

Portrait of Menachem Mendel Schneersohn in a shtreimel

Shtreimels worn past the Hasidim of Galicia, Romania, and Republic of hungary, and Lithuanian Jews up until the 20th century were fabricated of a big circular slice of black velvet surrounded by fur. The shtreimel of Menachem Mendel Schneersohn (besides known as the Tzemach Tzedek) was white velvet. Hasidim originating from Congress Poland wear a loftier shtreimel (oft called a spodik). The shtreimel of the Rebbes of the Ruzhin and Skolye dynasties is pointed upward.

Symbolism [edit]

While there is strong religious custom for Jewish males to embrace their heads, from the standpoint of Jewish law there is no religious significance to the use of the shtreimel as the head covering. However, the wearing of two head coverings (the shtreimel is always worn over a yarmulke) is considered to add additional spiritual merit, plus the presence of beautiful craftsmanship adds beautification and honour to the custom.^{[ commendation needed ]} Such headgear is worn on special occasions (such as Shabbat), in the synagogue, or by office-holders such equally rabbis.^{[ citation needed ]}

According to Rabbi Aaron Wertheim, Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz (1726–1791) stated that "[t]he acronym for Shabbos is: Shtreimel Bimkom Tefillin - the shtreimel takes the identify of tefillin."^[10] Since wearing special clothing on Shabbat is a form of sanctification, among the Hasidim of Galicia and Republic of hungary the shtreimel is associated with the holiness of Shabbat, a crown such as that worn by royalty, which enhances and beautifies Shabbat.^{[ commendation needed ]}

Arnon asserts that the number of furs used in the manufacture of the shtreimel has some significance. Common numbers are 13, 18, and 26, respective respectively to the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, the numerical value (gematria) of the give-and-take for life (Hebrew: חי), and the numerical value of the Tetragrammaton.^[eleven] Contemporary shtreimlach may include higher numbers of tails. At least 1 maker creates shtreimelach with 42 tails, symbolizing the 42-letter Divine Proper name.^{[ citation needed ]}

Male person Orthodox Jews can be highly conservative regarding headgear, and some traditional Jews still wear fedoras or homburgs.^[12] Although the traditional Jewish headgear is of Gentile origin and has specific historical and geographical roots, it continues to be worn past traditional Jews even when not-Jews in the land of origin have long stopped wearing it.^{[ citation needed ]}

Industry [edit]

The shtreimel is typically custom-made from the tails of Canadian or Russian sable, beech marten, baum marten (European pine marten), or grey play a trick on. The shtreimel is almost always the nearly plush article of Hasidic clothing.^[xiii] Usually the bride'south male parent purchases the shtreimel for the groom upon his wedding ceremony. Nowadays, it is customary in the United States to purchase 2 shtreimels: a cheaper version, called the regen shtreimel ("pelting shtreimel"), is for occasions when the expensive one may go damaged. In Israel, due to the economic circumstances of most members of the Hasidic community in that country, the vast bulk of shtreimel-wearers own only i shtreimel. The shtreimel manufacturers (shtreimel machers) go on their trade a closely guarded secret.^[xiv]

See likewise [edit]

• Kolpik
• Spodik

References [edit]

Citations [edit]

1. ^ Blumenthal, Ralph (2009-05-10). "When He Talks Hats, Basic Blackness is Only the Beginning". New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2017-08-02. Retrieved 2009-05-11 .
2. ^ ^{a b} "Hassidic Shtreimel". www.europeana.european union. Archived from the original on 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2021-07-28 .
3. ^ Danna Lorch (17 May 2018). "Shtreimel Styles Are Ruled By Trends Every bit Much As Tradition — Even For Hasidim". The Forwards Clan, Inc. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
4. ^ ^{a b} "Of 'spodiks' and 'shtreimels'". The Jerusalem Mail | JPost.com. Archived from the original on 2020-12-02. Retrieved 2021-02-03 .
5. ^ Berel Wein: Living Jewish: Values, Practices and Traditions, p. 111; pp. 247–248. Mesorah Publications, 2002.
6. ^ "Jewish Vesture". My Jewish Learning. Archived from the original on 2021-01-18. Retrieved 2021-02-03 .
7. ^ "Shtreimels and Spodiks – NJOP". njop.org. Archived from the original on 2021-02-10. Retrieved 2021-02-04 .
8. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-09-22. Retrieved 2019-03-11 . {{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as championship (link)
9. ^ ^{a b} "DELET". Archived from the original on 2020-08-05. Retrieved 2019-03-11 .
10. ^ Halachos 5'halichos B'chasidus, p. 196
11. ^ Arnon, p.88
12. ^ "Orthodox Jewish blackness lid". 9 April 2019. Archived from the original on 17 June 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
13. ^ Feldmar, Jamie (2011-09-20). "Williamsburg Hooligan Hoists Holy Hasidic Hat!". Archived from the original on 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2019-03-22 .
14. ^ Arnon p.208

General bibliography [edit]

• Arnon, Dan (1995). יי ראש בארץ-ישראל ועל מה שמתחתם [A Hat for All Seasons] (in Hebrew). Tel Aviv: Am Oved. ISBN965-13-1021-9.
• Philippi, Dieter (2009). Sammlung Philippi - Kopfbedeckungen in Glaube, Religion und Spiritualität. St. Benno Verlag, Leipzig. ISBN978-3-7462-2800-half-dozen.

External links [edit]

• Media related to Shtreimels at Wikimedia Commons

beaverthera1936.blogspot.com

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shtreimel

Share this post