The Chassidic Attire: Difference between revisions

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[[File:שליח ציבור.jpeg|thumb|The Rebbe stands as a shliach tzibbur (prayer leader) dressed in chassidic attire: wearing a kneitch hat, dressed in a sirtuk and wearing a gartel.]]

'''The Chassidic attire''' customary among Chabad chassidim differs from that of Polish chassidim and is more similar to what is customary in Lithuanian communities. It consists of a short suit on weekdays, and a long one on Shabbos for married men, a "kneitch" hat, and for married men also a gartel.

'''The Chassidic attire''' customary among Chabad chassidim differs from that of Polish chassidim and is more similar to what is customary in Lithuanian communities. It consists of a short suit on weekdays, and a long one on Shabbos for married men, a "[[The Kneitch Hat|kneitch]]" hat, and for married men also a gartel.

Over the years, less emphasis has been placed in Chabad chassidus on maintaining a fixed style of dress, while the main investment was on the inner quality of the chassid and his conduct. Nevertheless, there was caution not to sink into and be preoccupied with following fashion.

[[File:ר מענדל תשרי נב.gif|thumb|'''Picture number 1:''' Reb Mendel Futerfas wearing a kasket (cap) that was customary in Russia.]]

== Avoiding Wearing Fashionable Clothing ==

Before the wedding of Reb Nachum - the grandson of the Alter Rebbe, the Alter Rebbe approached him and asked if he would agree to tear the beautiful part of the fur on the lapel of the silk and leather coat in which he was supposed to enter the chuppah. Reb Nachum said he did not agree and did not want to do so, even when the Alter Rebbe offered to learn with him in exchange. But the Alter Rebbe told him that if he agreed, he would merit to be "with me in my domain" in the World to Come. Reb Nachum wanted to agree, but still asked whether he should do this because he truly wanted to replace the expensive silk with a patch, or do it with "kabbalas ol" (acceptance of the yoke) because the Alter Rebbe commanded him to do so. The Alter Rebbe said that he should truly want it with the truth of the "yechidah," and Reb Nachum was silent - because he truly did not want to sew a patch on the coat. On the wedding day, Reb Nachum went to receive a blessing from the Alter Rebbe before the chuppah, and then the Alter Rebbe tore off part of the collar and promised him longevity in return. In his later years, Reb Nachum established his residence in Haditch - near the gravesite of the Alter Rebbe - in order to atone for not wanting in his youth to tear the fur and sew the patch sincerely.

Before the wedding of Reb Nachum - the grandson of [[the Alter Rebbe]], the Alter Rebbe approached him and asked if he would agree to tear the beautiful part of the fur on the lapel of the silk and leather coat in which he was supposed to enter the chuppah. Reb Nachum said he did not agree and did not want to do so, even when the Alter Rebbe offered to learn with him in exchange. But the Alter Rebbe told him that if he agreed, he would merit to be "with me in my domain" in the World to Come. Reb Nachum wanted to agree, but still asked whether he should do this because he truly wanted to replace the expensive silk with a patch, or do it with "kabbalas ol" (acceptance of the yoke) because the Alter Rebbe commanded him to do so. The Alter Rebbe said that he should truly want it with the truth of the "yechidah," and Reb Nachum was silent - because he truly did not want to sew a patch on the coat. On the wedding day, Reb Nachum went to receive a blessing from the Alter Rebbe before the chuppah, and then the Alter Rebbe tore off part of the collar and promised him longevity in return. In his later years, Reb Nachum established his residence in Haditch - near the gravesite of the Alter Rebbe - in order to atone for not wanting in his youth to tear the fur and sew the patch sincerely.

The Rebbe told this story several times and explained that in every generation there is the "klipah" and the trials that are aroused by it, and the Alter Rebbe saw that in this generation the "klipah" and desire for beautiful, magnificent clothing was growing stronger. Therefore, the Alter Rebbe wanted to "break" and nullify this klipah by tearing the beautiful part of the elegant coat, to the extent that he promised in return "with me in my domain."

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 [[File:שליח ציבור.jpeg|thumb|The Rebbe stands as a shliach tzibbur (prayer leader) dressed in chassidic attire: wearing a kneitch hat, dressed in a sirtuk and wearing a gartel.]]
-'''The Chassidic attire''' customary among Chabad chassidim differs from that of Polish chassidim and is more similar to what is customary in Lithuanian communities. It consists of a short suit on weekdays, and a long one on Shabbos for married men, a "kneitch" hat, and for married men also a gartel.
+'''The Chassidic attire''' customary among Chabad chassidim differs from that of Polish chassidim and is more similar to what is customary in Lithuanian communities. It consists of a short suit on weekdays, and a long one on Shabbos for married men, a "[[The Kneitch Hat|kneitch]]" hat, and for married men also a gartel.
 Over the years, less emphasis has been placed in Chabad chassidus on maintaining a fixed style of dress, while the main investment was on the inner quality of the chassid and his conduct. Nevertheless, there was caution not to sink into and be preoccupied with following fashion.
 [[File:ר מענדל תשרי נב.gif|thumb|'''Picture number 1:''' Reb Mendel Futerfas wearing a kasket (cap) that was customary in Russia.]]
 == Avoiding Wearing Fashionable Clothing ==
-Before the wedding of Reb Nachum - the grandson of the Alter Rebbe, the Alter Rebbe approached him and asked if he would agree to tear the beautiful part of the fur on the lapel of the silk and leather coat in which he was supposed to enter the chuppah. Reb Nachum said he did not agree and did not want to do so, even when the Alter Rebbe offered to learn with him in exchange. But the Alter Rebbe told him that if he agreed, he would merit to be "with me in my domain" in the World to Come. Reb Nachum wanted to agree, but still asked whether he should do this because he truly wanted to replace the expensive silk with a patch, or do it with "kabbalas ol" (acceptance of the yoke) because the Alter Rebbe commanded him to do so. The Alter Rebbe said that he should truly want it with the truth of the "yechidah," and Reb Nachum was silent - because he truly did not want to sew a patch on the coat. On the wedding day, Reb Nachum went to receive a blessing from the Alter Rebbe before the chuppah, and then the Alter Rebbe tore off part of the collar and promised him longevity in return. In his later years, Reb Nachum established his residence in Haditch - near the gravesite of the Alter Rebbe - in order to atone for not wanting in his youth to tear the fur and sew the patch sincerely.
+Before the wedding of Reb Nachum - the grandson of [[the Alter Rebbe]], the Alter Rebbe approached him and asked if he would agree to tear the beautiful part of the fur on the lapel of the silk and leather coat in which he was supposed to enter the chuppah. Reb Nachum said he did not agree and did not want to do so, even when the Alter Rebbe offered to learn with him in exchange. But the Alter Rebbe told him that if he agreed, he would merit to be "with me in my domain" in the World to Come. Reb Nachum wanted to agree, but still asked whether he should do this because he truly wanted to replace the expensive silk with a patch, or do it with "kabbalas ol" (acceptance of the yoke) because the Alter Rebbe commanded him to do so. The Alter Rebbe said that he should truly want it with the truth of the "yechidah," and Reb Nachum was silent - because he truly did not want to sew a patch on the coat. On the wedding day, Reb Nachum went to receive a blessing from the Alter Rebbe before the chuppah, and then the Alter Rebbe tore off part of the collar and promised him longevity in return. In his later years, Reb Nachum established his residence in Haditch - near the gravesite of the Alter Rebbe - in order to atone for not wanting in his youth to tear the fur and sew the patch sincerely.
 The Rebbe told this story several times and explained that in every generation there is the "klipah" and the trials that are aroused by it, and the Alter Rebbe saw that in this generation the "klipah" and desire for beautiful, magnificent clothing was growing stronger. Therefore, the Alter Rebbe wanted to "break" and nullify this klipah by tearing the beautiful part of the elegant coat, to the extent that he promised in return "with me in my domain."