Abekisheorbeketche(Yiddish:בעקעטשעbeketcheorבעקישעbekishe), is a type offrock coat,usually made of blacksilkorpolyester,worn byHasidic Jews,and by some non-HasidicHarediJews.[1]The bekishe is worn mainly onShabbosandJewish holidays,or at weddings and other such events. During the week, it is customary to wear arekel,made of wool or polyester, looking like a regular double-breasted suit, only longer. Hassidic rabbis who wear a bekishe during the week will wear a more ornate version for Shabbos, often lined with velvet or some color other than or in addition to black.
The New York Timesdescribed theBekesheas a "fancier Sabbath version" of theRekel.[2]
History
editThebekishederives from the Hungarianbekesc. 16th century,a sort of fur-lined coat with a collar, fastened by clasps. Thebekeswas often richly decorated, sometimes withgalloon.[3]One force driving caution with use of wool is the Biblical injunction againstmi xingit with linen (Lev. 19:19; Deut. 22:11).[3]
Design
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The bekishe is typically black.[4]There are two main types of bekishe. The glatt (plain, lit. smooth) bekishe is solid colored, and is usually worn forFriday nightand Saturdaymorning prayers.For Shabbos meals, the patterned bekishe, also known as a tish bekishe (table Bekishe), is worn. The tish bekishe is also worn by some during the Shabbosafternoon prayer serviceand the night after Shabbos. Both can be made of silk, although nowadays it is usually polyester. Some non-Hassidic Orthodox Jews wear a tish bekishe at home during the Shabbos meals. Many Hassidic Rebbes, mainly of Hungarian lineage, weartish bekisheswith various colors, usually either blue or silver, often with black. Many Hassidic Rebbes wearsamet(velvet) orstrohkes(velvet piping), symbolizingtefillin,on the bekeshe.
Kaftan
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The gold and blue striped garments worn by Yerushalmi Haredim such asToldos Aharon,Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok,Dushinsky,Neturei Karta,Shomer Emunim,Pinsk-Karlin,and many but not all inBreslovandKarlin-Stolin,as well as other non-affiliated Yerushalmi Haredim such as thePerushimare calledkaftans.Those members of these movements centred in Jerusalem or one of the Jerusalem-affiliated suburbs such asBeitar Illit,Ramat Beit ShemeshorModi'in Illitwear these gold coats. Those who live further away, for example inBnei Brak,Ashdodor outside of E. Israel, usually wear blackbekisheslike most other Hasidim, as do some of those who live in Jerusalem.
The goldkaftan[3][5]is generally worn after marriage; before marriage, either a black bekishe or weekday-style clothing is worn on days when a bekishe is usually worn. Some of those who wear the gold bekishe switch to black on Shabbos afternoon beforeMincha;this is seen in, for example, Dushinsky and with many of the Prushim.
Kapoteh
editMarriedChabadhasidim wear a long blackkapoteh(frock coat) instead of abekishe.[4]Thekapotehorfrak,besides its unique waist seam construction, has four buttons in the front (as opposed to six [or eight inNadvorna - Kretschnef] on the front of a bekishe), as well as slit in the back, which is lacking on the bekishe. The kapoteh can be made of either wool or silk.[6]Although black is the preferred predominant color,[7]other hues can be present, including on thebuttonholes.[4]
References
edit- ^Jainchill, Johanna (October 16, 2005)."Two Brothers, Two Paths, One Photo Album".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on January 14, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 18,2017.
- ^Joseph Berger (July 28, 2010)."Dressing With Faith, Not Heat, in Mind: Hasidic Jews in Heavy Dress Bear Up in Summer".The New York Times.RetrievedNovember 6,2022.
- ^abcGoldberg-Mulkiewicz, Olga."Dress".YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe.Archivedfrom the original on April 15, 2021.RetrievedJuly 26,2018.
- ^abcSarah Kleinberg (September 11, 2009)."Now Plugging My Yiddishe Tailor".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on November 7, 2022.RetrievedNovember 7,2022.
in bright hues
- ^Brederic Morton (October 18, 1970)."Jewish Is Beautiful".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on November 8, 2022.RetrievedNovember 8,2022.
in kaftan and yarmulkah
- ^Joseph Berger (December 8, 1986)."Basement Synagogue Causes a Clash in Rockland".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on November 7, 2022.RetrievedNovember 7,2022.
and a kapote, or silk robe.
- ^Robert Mcg. Thomas Jr. (October 16, 1997)."Isadore Twersky, of Harvard and the Hasidim, Dies at 67".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on November 10, 2022.RetrievedNovember 7,2022.
his long black kapote
External links
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Media related toCategory:Bekishesat Wikimedia Commons- Why the Long Black Coat?
