Shtreimel
Ashtreimel(Yiddish:שטרײַמלshtrayml,plural:שטרײַמלעךshtraymlekhorשטרײַמלעןshtraymlen) is afurhat worn by someAshkenaziJewishmen, mainly members ofHasidic Judaism,onShabbatandJewish holidaysand other festive occasions.[1]InJerusalem,the shtreimel is also worn byLitvak Jews(non-Hasidim who belong to the original Ashkenazi community of Jerusalem, also known asPerushim). The shtreimel is generally worn after marriage, although it may be worn by boys afterbar-mitzvahage in some communities.
History
[edit]There is speculation surrounding the origin of the shtreimel. Different theories hold that it is ofTatar,Turkish,Russian,orPolish[2]origin, but it is not possible to establish a clear chronology.[3]A common view is that the shtreimel was adapted by Jews living in Europe as a warm winter hat,[4]possibly inspired by nobility;[5][2][6][7]the shtreimel is comparable in construction to fur hats historically worn by gentile nobles and commoners across Europe and Russia.[7][8]According to the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw, the shtreimel could come from a period in the 17th century when Oriental costumes were considered fashionable by the nobility of thePolish–Lithuanian Commonwealth(Sarmatism).[8]One legend says that the initial reason for adopting the shtreimel was that the Jews were forced to wear an animal tail as a public humiliation.[4]
Types ofshtreimels
[edit]
Shtreimels worn by the Hasidim ofGalicia,Romania,andHungary,and Lithuanian Jews up until the 20th century were made of a large circular piece of blackvelvetsurrounded by fur.[citation needed]
Hasidim originating fromCongress Polandwear a high shtreimel (often called aspodik).[citation needed]The shtreimel of theRebbesof theRuzhinandSkolyedynastiesis pointed upward.[9]
Symbolism
[edit]While there is strong religious custom for Jewish males tocover their heads,from the standpoint ofJewish lawthere 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 ayarmulke) is considered to add additional spiritual merit, plus the presence of beautiful craftsmanship adds beautification and honour to the custom.[citation needed]Such headgear is worn on special occasions (such asShabbat), in thesynagogue,or by office-holders such as rabbis.[citation needed]
According to Rabbi Aaron Wertheim, RabbiPinchas of Koretz(1726–1791) stated that "[t]he acronym for Shabbos is:Shtreimel Bimkom Tefillin- the shtreimel takes the place oftefillin."[10]Since wearing special clothing on Shabbat is a form of sanctification, among theHasidimofGaliciaand Hungary the shtreimel is associated with the holiness of Shabbat, a crown such as that worn by royalty, which enhances and beautifies Shabbat.[citation 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, corresponding respectively to theThirteen Attributes of Mercy,the numerical value (gematria) of the word for life (Hebrew:חי), and the numerical value of theTetragrammaton.[11]Contemporaryshtreimlachmay include higher numbers of tails. At least one maker creates shtreimelach with 42 tails, symbolizing the 42-letter Divine Name.[9]
Male Orthodox Jews can be highly conservative regarding headgear, and some traditional Jews still wearfedorasorhomburgs.[12]
Manufacture
[edit]The shtreimel is typically custom-made from the tails of Canadian or Russiansable,beech marten,baum marten (European pine marten), orgray fox.The shtreimel is almost always the most costly article of Hasidic clothing.[13]Usually, but not always, the bride's father purchases the shtreimel for the groom upon hiswedding.[9]Nowadays, it is customary in the United States to purchase two shtreimels; a cheaper version, called theregenshtreimel ( "rain shtreimel" ), is for occasions when the expensive one may get damaged.[9]In Israel, due to the economic circumstances of most members of the Hasidic community in that country, the vast majority of shtreimel-wearers own only one shtreimel. The shtreimel manufacturers (shtreimel machers) keep their trade a closely guarded secret.[14]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^Blumenthal, Ralph (2009-05-10)."When He Talks Hats, Basic Black is Only the Beginning".New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-08-02.Retrieved2009-05-11.
- ^ab"Hassidic Shtreimel".europeana.eu.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-07-28.Retrieved2021-07-28.
- ^Danna Lorch (17 May 2018)."Shtreimel Styles Are Ruled By Trends As Much As Tradition — Even For Hasidim".The Forward Association, Inc.Archivedfrom the original on 9 December 2019.Retrieved9 December2019.
- ^ab"Of 'spodiks' and 'shtreimels'".The Jerusalem Post.17 July 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 2020-12-02.Retrieved2021-02-03.
- ^Berel Wein: Living Jewish: Values, Practices and Traditions, p. 111; pp. 247–248. Mesorah Publications, 2002.
- ^"Jewish Clothing".My Jewish Learning.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-01-18.Retrieved2021-02-03.
- ^ab"Shtreimels and Spodiks".njop.org.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-02-10.Retrieved2021-02-04.
- ^ab"DELET".Archivedfrom the original on 2020-08-05.Retrieved2019-03-11.
- ^abcd"Jewish Concepts: Shtreimel".Jewish Virtual Library.RetrievedOctober 20,2023.
- ^Halachos V'halichos B'chasidus, p. 196
- ^Arnon, p.88
- ^"Orthodox Jewish black hat".9 April 2019.Archivedfrom the original on 17 June 2019.Retrieved17 June2019.
- ^Feldmar, Jamie (2011-09-20)."Williamsburg Hooligan Hoists Holy Hasidic Hat!".Archivedfrom the original on 2019-03-22.Retrieved2019-03-22.
- ^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.ISBN978-3-7462-2800-6.
