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Why do Hasidic Jews dress so differently?

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Why do Hasidic Jews dress so differently?

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"The men look hostile wrapped like undertakers in their hats and coats all year long. their untended beards and dandruff-dusted shoulders. The women look simultaneously sexless and fecund in aggressively flat shoes, thick coloured stockings and shapeless clothing, but always surrounded by children." (13)

This quote is important as we compare the female and male Hasidic culture. Male's tend to be viewed as unfriendly and dangerous to those around them just by their appearance. The women don't appear to be interested sexually by men, yet have many children. They dress in shapeless clothing as if they wish to hide their bodies.

I chose this video because it discusses how Jewish clothing was founded in the 18th century in Eastern Europe and stems from the Ukrainian region dress code. Their clothing choice comes from historical circumstances not specific laws. For instance, men and women are expected to wear different clothes, men must wear pants and women are not allowed to.

Seeker Network. “Why Do Hasidic Jews Dress So Differently.” Vimeo, 6 Jan. 2019, vimeo.com/135414555.

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Why Do Hasidic Jews Dress So Differently

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Hasidic Jews are a very recognizable group. I’m sure if you’ve ever walked around the streets of Brooklyn you have seen them.

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Sources:

United with Israel - Jewish Dress Code Based on Torah Value of Modesty
http://unitedwithisrael.org/jewish-dress-code-based-on-torah-value-of-modesty/

Jew in the City - Why Don’t Orthodox Jewish Women Wear Pants?
http://jewinthecity.com/2009/06/why-dont-orthodox-jewish-women-wear-pants/

Forward - Ex-Hasidic Woman Marks Five Years Since She Shaved Her Head
http://forward.com/articles/187128/ex-hasidic-woman-marks-five-years-since-she-shaved/

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Creative Commons Images Courtesy of:

Photo by Paul Arps
https://flic.kr/p/da5cAv
CC BY 2.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

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"In a Frum home, a wife is expected to be available for sex at any moment - unless she's on her period." (208)

This quote demonstrates how even Orthodox women are expected to succumb to the wishes of men. To be Frum is to be devoted to the Jewish religious law. For example the wife must always be available for sex whenever their husband desires so. This is not only disrespectful towards women but disturbing, you should be given a choice whether you participate in sexual intercourse.

I chose this book because it describes the encounters of Orthodox Jews and how they go through more than just dietary laws and prohibitions. They are brought into an entire new culture. The book explains how newcomers learn Orthodox language and culture through their interactions with their community.

Benor, Sarah Bunin. Becoming Frum: How Newcomers Learn the Language and Culture                         of  Orthodox Judaism. Rutgers University Press, 2012.

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"Jewish law says that every drop of blood and strand of hair of the deceased should be buried with him." (93)

This quote is important to the story as many Jews die in the text and are all buried immediately, without autopsy's and are to be buried just as they are born (limbs and organs). This demonstrates how dedicated Jews are to their culture even when deceased.

I chose this article because it describes the components of a Jewish funeral and how important it is to their culture that they are buried in the ways of their ancestors. The text outlines the scheduling of the funeral, flowers, music, viewing, what to do if the mourner is Kohen, forbidden burial alternatives, transgression of cremation and the wishes of the deceased.

Goldstein, Zalman. “Basic Laws of a Jewish Funeral.” Jewish Traditions and Mitzvah

Observances, 17 May 2006,

://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/367836/jewish/Basic-Laws-of-a-Jewish-Funeral.htm

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A Jewish Funeral is a Jew's Right

Receiving a proper Jewish funeral is so significant and important that many Jews have mandated this in their wills, thereby ensuring that they will be buried in the ways of their ancestors. While one is still alive, one should make it clear to loved ones that his or her funeral must adhere to Jewish tradition.

If one did not leave explicit directions, family or caregivers must ensure that the funeral director will provide the services requeste d (i.e. traditional Tahara - washing and purification of the body, a Shomer - a Jewish person to stay with the deceased until burial, Tachrichim - traditional shrouds, a "kosher" casket, and to be cared for by the Chevra Kaddisha).

Some funeral homes (even those with Jewish sounding names) will not offer these services unless specifically requested (and insisted upon) by the family. That said, responsible funeral directors will go out of their way to accommodate the needs of the family once those needs are made known.

Scheduling the Funeral

It is a Biblical commandment to bury one's deceased immediately after passing, and it is forbidden to leave the deceased unburied overnight unless it is for his honor (i.e. to perform a proper Tahara, obtain shrouds, arrange for a burial plot, gather family, etc.).

One may not put off the burial unnecessarily, for our sages state that the soul is in turmoil until the body is properly buried in the ground. Therefore, there needs to be a great sense of urgency to complete the burial as quickly as possible.

If the passing occurred in the morning, one should try to ensure that the deceased is prepared for burial and buried before dusk of the same day. If this is not possible, the burial should take place on the following day.

If the deceased will be buried in another country, or in other circumstances, consult the Chevra Kaddisha or a competent rabbi for guidance.

Flowers, Music, Viewing

It is not the Jewish custom to send or bring flowers to a funeral or cemetery, for flowers are associated with joyous celebrations. For the same reason, music is not played or sung.

It is also forbidden to hold an "open casket" viewing. This is considered extremely disrespectful to the deceased.

When the Mourner is a Kohen

According to the Torah, a Kohen (descendants of Aaron, the high-priest) is not permitted to come in contact with a deceased b ody. This means that a Kohen cannot be within six feet of where a deceased person may lie; the Kohen may also not be under the same roof as the deceased. For the Kohen, this Biblical prohibition is as serious as the laws forbidding eating unkosher food and violating the Shabbat.

Nevertheless, the Kohen is obligated to attend the funeral of his father, mother, wife (as long as he was permitted to marry her according to Jewish law), son, daughter, brother [including half-brother from his father's side], sister who is not married [including half-sister from the father's side]. In these cases, it becomes a mitzva for him to make himself ritually impure by his attendance.

Forbidden Burial Alternatives

According to Jewish law, a Jew is to be buried as he was born - complete with all his limbs and organs. The human body is considered as sacred in death as it was in life as it contained a G‑dly soul. He must be buried in a traditional grave in the ground, so that the body may return to the earth.

Burial in vaults, above-ground mausoleums, crypts, and any other alternatives to a traditional ground burial are strictly forbidden according to Jewish law.

Kabbalah teaches that when a proper kosher burial is not administered, the deceased's soul is stuck in a state of turmoil and cannot find rest until the body's remains are given a proper Jewish burial and allowed to be absorbed into the earth - even after many years!

The Transgression of Cremation

Cremation is explicitly forbidden according to all authentic Jewish opinions and there are never any circumstances where it is permitted. Jewish law considers cremation as pure idol worship, and as "going in the ways of the gentiles." Any instructions to be cremated must be ignored without feelings of guilt or regret.

Aside from the permanent spiritual destruction of the link between the body and soul, if one ever witnessed the action of the "bone-crusher" that is used to pulverize the skeletal remains into the appearance of ashes after the burning of the body, no one of good heart would allow such indignity to come to someone they consider dear.

The prohibition against cremation is so severe that according to Judaism, a person is forbidden to mourn or sit Shiva for one who had himself cremated. This is because in addition to violating Torah law, the person denied G‑d's promise of the future Resurrection of the Dead by having his body obliterated. 1

A proper Jewish burial affects the final peace of the soul and should never be treated lightly. Should a unique situation arise, one must consult a rabbi who specializes in this area of Jewish law for proper guidance.

The Wishes of the Deceased

If the person left specific instructions concerning his funeral and burial, we are morally obligated to do our utmost to carry them out, providing their fulfillment does not violate Jewish law. If one left instructions for actions that go against Jewish law (i.e. to be embalmed or cremated, the donation of organs for science, burial in a mixed-denomination cemetery, burial above-ground, no Tahara purification, the use of a metal casket, etc.), those caring for the deceased are obligated to ignore those wishes without feelings of guilt or regret. Instead one should substitute a proper Jewish burial through the local Chevra Kaddisha.

Most of the time, such requests are made out of ignorance of proper Jewish law and the severity of these matters. Judaism believes that had the person known the eternal consequences of his request, he would not have made them. In addition, now that he is in the "World of Truth," one should not cause him spiritual "pain" by deviating from the ways of the Torah.

Even if the person knew that what he wished went against Jewish law, we can certainly not assist him in committing a sin. On the contrary, we have an obligation to make it right for his soul, so that at least in death, he is laid to rest as a Jew. Our actions will generate merit that will advocate for him in his final judgment before G‑d.

In a case where the requests simply deviate from local custom (i.e. the delivery of a eulogy, to be buried next to a spouse, etc.), one should seek the advice of a competent rabbi or the Chevra Kaddisha.

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Receiving a proper Jewish funeral is so significant and important that many Jews have mandated this in their wills, thereby ensuring that they will be buried in the ways of their ancestors. While one is still alive, one should make it clear to loved ones that his or her funeral must adhere to Jewish tradition.

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"Generally , Jews in this community believe that speaking to the authorities about another Jew is a sin against the community, It's Mesirah." (86)

Mesirah means reporting on your fellow Jew. This quote is important as it shows how invested Jews are within their culture and community. Their community protects each other and would rather conform to their own beliefs than turn to authority for help. It is every Jews duty to keep each other out of prison no matter how dangerous the situation may be.

I chose this article as it outlines what is and what is not "Mesirah" and how it relates to the law of the land. Mesirah is used as a code of silence , instead of turning to authorities for help they must conceal the truth to protect their community from punishment.

Schachter, Rabbi Hershel. “Regarding Mesirah.” Having the Time of Your Life – Rabbi

Mayer Twersky, www.torahweb.org/torah/special/2007/rsch_mesirah.html.

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Regarding Mesirah - Rabbi Herschel Shachter

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The prohibition of mesirah is well known among religious Jews. The severity of this issur becomes ever so clear when we read in Shulchan Aruch that a mosser is dino ke'akum with respect to writing a sefer Torah ( Yoreh Deah 281:3) and with respect to shechitah ( Ramoh ibid 2:9).

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"In my modest clothing I am free from leering stares of men. I am free to be judged by my intellect and my actions, not by my body". (249)

This quote is important as it allows us to better understand the meaning behind why female Jews dress the way they do. Their not forced to live this lifestyle but instead choose to. In their modest clothes they feel free from judgement, they see exposed flesh as a threat. Jewish women would rather be looked at by their actions and intelligence rather than their bodies.

I chose this article as it summarizes the dress code that Jewish women must abide by based on which group they belong to. It discusses the proper hair, tops, bottoms, holiday clothing and Reformed Judaism they must wear depending on their group. For instance, a married women must shave her head and keep her head covered while in public, where as a women who is not married may reveal her hair.

Nikolai, Aksona. “How Do Jewish Women Dress?” LEAFtv,www.leaf.tv/articles/how-do-jewish-women-dress/.

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A Jewish woman's dress code is dictated by the section of Jewish law known as "Tznius," which translates from Hebrew to mean "modesty." While Orthodox...

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"I know their Jewish because they're wearing the outfit: big black hat, long black coat, beard, side curls. It's not subtle." (9)

This quote reflect's how easy it is for people to judge other cultures and how they assume a person's culture based on their appearance (Black clothing, facial hair, covered up). This also shows that all Jews tend to dress the same and don't seem to care about their appearance, which ideally differentiates their culture from others.

I chose this image as it helps us differ between the type of clothing Jewish men wear based on the group they belong too. It gives us a better understanding of what and why they wear certain types of clothing. For instance, the image below indicates that the long black coats they wear are called "Bekishe" and their side curls are known as "Payots".