Comments on: The Temptation of the Bekeshe

By: YM

YM — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 02:56:55 +0000

Mr. Coleman, I would be interested in reading your take on the approach of BTs in a place like BTU, what the differences are, the problems with “charedi lite”, and what have you. What things you think most BTs are missing or not picking up on when it comes to the general approach, etc.

By: YM

YM — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 02:27:13 +0000

Great post, Mr. Coleman

By: Ron Coleman

Ron Coleman — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 18:43:44 +0000

… but you’re aware that it’s not located within the boundaries of New York State…

By: Bob Miller

Bob Miller — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 17:15:08 +0000

You know you’re a BT if…

…you feel you have to identify with a European country you never even visited.

By: Ron Coleman

Ron Coleman — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:28:36 +0000

As well they should be.

By: DK

DK — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 06:46:19 +0000

“And yet I am not a Lithuanian, save by intellectual bent”

Well, we accept you anyway. Having said that, all calls in regards to dress code are now suspect.

By: avakesh

avakesh — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 22:39:28 +0000

Trust me, whether you wear a black hat or a bekeshe, or just conservative suites and shirts, even if you just behave in dsomewhat different manner, you stand out and are recognized. It is like accents, light ones, heavy ones, they all identify you.

Reminds me of a story, shared with me years ago by a proprietor of a religious hotel. This facility was run by a group that was ideologically distinct from Satmar, so it surprised him to see a full regalia Satmarer signing in one erev shaboos. Noting the inquisitive look, he said, “I need to get away for one shabbos and here no one would look for me.”

The Satmerer did not wera a shtreimel that Shabbos, just his distinctive long white stockings, round weekday hat, freely flowing peyos and a long bekesshe.

After Shabbos the owner asked hih: “So why didn’t you wear a shtreimel?”.

“I didn’t want to stand out”, came the reply.

Analysis: What we are used to doesn’t bother us. Having grown up in that clothing, the Chosid did not recognize that he stood out. It was only the shtreimel, which he did not wear during the week, that represented to him a separation from others.

By: Charnie

Charnie — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 21:39:02 +0000

I was referring to when Rabbi Riskin was still at Lincoln Square.

By: Chaya H.

Chaya H. — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 11:29:13 +0000

Rabbi Riskin wears a bekeshe on Shabbat because he’s the chief rabbi of Efrat. It fits into the “rabbinical garb” category. I don’t think he’s advocating it as Shabbat gear for all the residents of his community. Although that would be something to see…

By: Rabbi Shmuel Simenowitz

Rabbi Shmuel Simenowitz — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 04:04:40 +0000

that silent, silken black rebuke.

recalling roads that others took

black Borselinos and sleek sartuks

(I could go on like this all night but its murder on my stitches!)

yeshar kochacha! great piece

By: Matys Weiser

Matys Weiser — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 23:34:17 +0000

I can not restrain myself from temptation to throw my drei Groshes (a penny).
First of all it is hard not to agree with Aaron saying that only hareidim fallow old style of Jewish look which as such remote communities as Taymon prove to be maybe not most authentic (not like Avraham Uvini) but at list significant. Here I mean facial and side facial hair. Regarding long jacket I learn that it is issue of tznius for man, why? Everybody have different sensitivity. Now, which lavish is the proper one? Any one covering the lower part of the back, and that’s what yekes use to wear. If they where known as kortze (short) yekke that’s what means short. Rabbi Duvid Lelover was called “Doytche”(If I’m correct) by other poylishe Hasidim, for the reason that he wear rekel long only to his knees.
Don’t take me wrong I’m not trying to say that any thing other than this is not properly Jewish. I’m aware that there are different traditions and Yiden from India may look quiet different and they 100% yiden. So is with other communities for example here in America. I respect more a yid who does not wear yarmulke but put tfilin every day than let’s say opposite. What I trying to express is the filing that some people, descendents of early American Jewish immigrants who for many reasons lost their connection not only to the tradition but to Jewish ness it self. This people calling other group who never experienced such brake of tradition: extremists and back warders.
Regarding malvish (cloths) it self. As you see it already by now, it is understandable where my hart is leaning.
I see great importance of specific Jewish appearance. Let it be white hood of the Moroccans or black shoelace (that’s from Kitzur and Rambam) somewhere else. It not only helps for the people to recognize representatives of G-d on this planet, (tell me it’s insignificant) but also help us not to forget Who we are representing. I hope you understand my point.
I live in Hasidic community enough long to understand that it does not give guarantee of high level of spirituality but it gives much higher chance to keep decent standard of yiddishkait. Any given individual (unless he is Tzadik gemur) can not be sure of his spiritual level for the next day, even next hour. Here comes to help (most of the times) awareness of the malvish. “It does not fit for the man dress like me to do so, or to be here, or to say something like this”… For this single reason it is worthy to dress like a Jew.
Regarding Yiddish. I posted my comment to the post of rabbi Horowitz where I disagree with him about this issue for simple reason, that my personal experience teach me something opposite so do my observation. And still my Yiddish speaking children are very good from English in their classes although it is not first language spoken at our home.
Regards to all.

By: Steve Brizel

Steve Brizel — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 23:22:24 +0000

I remember R S Riskin’s kapote.It was a gold and black Yerusahlmi style kapote. Nonetheless, AFAIK, neither RYBS nor Yivadleinu Lchaim RAL nor RHS wear such a garment.

Jacob Haller- As I recall that incident, my wife and I looked at each other with a quizzical look and dismissed it as the rantings and ravings of an unhappy person without any comment at all. It was a minor blip,but one which was punctuated by some classic urbam myths and stereotypes that I deemed unworthy of a response.

By: Rivka K

Rivka K — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 23:06:08 +0000

I found your post so interesting. I am a work in progress. Part of my ongoing issue stems from the fact that I live NO where near any kind of Orthodox area. I live so far away from anyone. I drive an hour or more to go to mikvah. So it is hard to integrate into ANY of the above mentioned societies. And without living amongst others it is hard to find your right path. I also am drawn to Chabad and Lubavitch for what I see is a beautiful, happy , Torah filled life. But some of the customs, which seem more custom, than Torah law are hard for me. Such as the wig. I always wear my wig when I am “in town” with my friends there. At home, never. I don’t like wearing it and my “old friends” don’t understand and I fear worry I really have cancer when they see me in it. I am finding it a bit easier than my husband to meet new religious friends when we live so far away. I go into town for some ladies studies, and meet nice ladies there. But that is as far as it goes. I am not living amongst them.
So cheradi or not, there are those of us that don’t have a label yet, that want to have a label. You can call me MO, BT, I am more a Chabad wannabe ,anything…I don’t care…I just want to feel a part of a community, yet I can’t as I don’t live near any.

By: adam

adam — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 22:24:04 +0000

“[T]hat silent, silken black rebuke.” !
Brilliant. Simply brilliant.

By: Michoel

Michoel — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 21:27:28 +0000

Avraham Avinu of course :-}}