Thread by @PosenIzzy

I'm on the train to Beautiful Bristol for the first time since graduating in July. I'm so excited! Ain't no Omicron getting in my way.

And I have a treat for you! I will use my time on the train to put together a comprehensive thread on chassidic male garb, pics n' all!

Chassidic male garb, a THREAD: 👇👇👇

Chassidic male garb is very unique and beautiful, a product of centuries of history and cultural evolution. This comprehensive thread is an introduction to everything you wanted to know or ask about male chassidic garb. /1

Strucutre: this thread will have two parts. Part I will outline some general remarks about chassidic garb. Part II will be a comprehensive list of the various items of male chassidic garb and their differences between followers of the different chassidic dynasties. /2

Part I: General remarks.
a. History: male chassidic garb evolved over centuries in Eastern Europe and it continues to evolve to this day. Without going into too much historical detail, themes involve cunning responses to forced clothing-assimilation in the 19th century, /3

deliberate demarcation markers of religious identity, and religious symbolism (see below). Before the wars variations in chassidic garb were mostly regional. Now they are strictly dynastic, marking adherence to specific chassidic synasties. /4

b. Symbolism: male chassidic garb is given extensive symbolic and mystical interpretation, whether in the significance of the colours, signifacnt numbers in Jewish numerology (gematriya), or in the specifities of buttoning up right over left or vice versa. /5

For example, as a rule, chassidic clothes always button up right side over left side, to give strength to the holy powers (represented by the right) over the impure powers (represented by left). The only exception are the trousers, which are buttoned left over right, to throw /6

a bone to the impure forces parallel to the sexual organ (chassidic theology is deeply suspicious of anything sexual; more below).
Most of these symbolisms developed post hoc, rather than being a cause for why these clothes were adopted in the first place. /7

A notable exception is the adoption of white items of clothing for shabbes, which has its sources in earlier kabbalistic texts. White on shabbes will be a theme that we'll be coming back to. /8

Besides for the symbolism in the clothing itself, Jewish law is very prescriptive on how to put on one's clothes, such as right shoe before left, etc. Chassidic mysticism added to these, such as putting on the shirt before the trousers. This is beyond the scope of this thread. /9

c. Significance: chassidim put tremendous significance on their clothing and any minor changes can signal rebellion. The garb is seen as a separation between the chassid and the world at large, keeping him pure and insulated. THe garb is regarded as holy. /10

The midrash says that the Exodus was in the merit of Jews not changing their attire in Egypt. Chassidic children are often taught to believe that that was chassidic garb, with some popular children's picture books having the ancient Israelites in 20th century chassidic garb. /11

In general, chassidic story telling is hagiography, not history. It is the lessons that are important, not the historical details. Chassidic garb is thus assoicated with general Jewish identity throughout the ages. /12

d. Identity and affiliation: chassidic garb marks one's place in the life cycle, as well as one's dynastic affiliation. It is at the age of 13 that a boy gets to wear the distinctive chassidic attire. This is a marker of adulthood and maturity that boys are very excited about./13

Subtle variations signal one's affiliation to the different dynasties. Outsiders usually fail to pick up on these, leading to hilarious (and frankly, offensive) caricatures of chassidim in Holywood - creating chassidim whose bottom and top halves belong to different dynasties./14

Like seriously, what kind of hybrid creature is this? (Holly Rollers 2010) /15

And what the hell is this?! (Unorthodox, Amazon Prime 2016). How expensive is it already to hire a culturally informed consultant? /16

And again (Black Hat 2019). No chassidic Jew has EVER looked like this! Would anyone get away with such caricatures of any other minority in this day and age?! /17

Little rant aside, we'll see plenty of examples in part II of how subtle variations in clothing signal alegience to different dynasties. /18

e. Rigidity vs creativity. Chassidic garb is still evolving, but very slowly (more in part II). For the most part the clothing is very prescriptive and yet there is room for subtle creativity, sometimes expressing teenage rebellion, sometimes asthetic preference. /19

We'll talk more in part II, looking at specific examples, but often the length or fit of the garment can signal rebellion/devotion. Some garments (like the tish bekitshe) have an inbuilt degree of freedom for creativity in flowery design. /20

A general principle of chassidic garb is expressed in the words of the late Kretchnifer rebbe: "ווי לענגער, ווי ברייטער." As long as possible and as wide as possible. Chassidic garb is meant to cover and hide the outlines of the body, for reasons of modesty. /21

My train will be pulling into Bristol soon, so part II will have to wait for another opportunity. Thanks for riding along with me and stay tuned!

I'm in BRISTOL! I'm so excited! This was my home over the last 4 years and I've been away for 5 months. Only when I stepped off the train did I realise how much I've missed it. Can't wait to have an amazing time here and catch up with all my lovely friends. Omicron stay away!

OK, I arrived at the hotel, ate, rested, showered, and there's still some time before dinner. So I am giving a crack at part II. Let's see how much I get through:

https://twitter.com/PosenIzzy/status/1471534130152280064

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