Shtreimel

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Hasidic Jew with a shtreimel (fur hat) prays at the Kotel, Western Wall, Jerusalem

A shtreimel (Yiddish: שטרײַמל, pl. שטרײַמלעך shtreimlech) is a fur hat worn by many married Haredi Jewish men, particularly (although not exclusively) members of Hasidic groups, on Shabbat and during Jewish holidays and other festive occasions.^[1] In Jerusalem the shtreimel is also worn by 'Yerushalmi' Jews (non-Hasidim who belong to the original Ashkenazi community, also known as Perushim). The shtreimel comprises a large circular piece of velvet surrounded by fur. The shtreimel is generally worn only after marriage, except in many Yerushalmi communities, where boys wear it from their bar mitzvah.

The most widely seen shtreimel is typically worn by the Hasidim of Galicia, Romania and Hungary and was worn by Lithuanian Jews up until the turn of the 20th century; Hasidim from Congress Poland wear a high shtreimel (often called a spodik).

Origins

Rabbi Pinchas Koritzer (1726-1791) (according to Rabbi Aaron Wertheim (^[2]) stated "The Acronym for Shobbos is: Shtreimel Bimkom Tefillin -- the Shtreimel takes the place of tefillin." Since wearing the special clothing on Sabbath is a form of santification, among the Hasidim of Galicia and Hungary, the Shtreimel is the hat associated with the Holiness of the Sabbath, a crown such as that worn by Royalty which enhances and beatifies the Sabbath. Where practical, no expense is spared in the honoring of the Holy Sabbath.

The Shtreimel is comparable in construction to fur hats worn by Polish and Russian nobility and royalty. Peter the Great wore a hat resembling a Shtreimel.

One traditional story says an anti-semitic political figure made a decree that male Jews must be identified on Sabbath by "Wearing a Tail" on their heads. Although the decree was an attempt to mock the Jews, the Hasidic Rabbis considered the matter seriously, in keeping with the universally accepted Jewish Law stating "the Law of the Land in which Jews live is to be upheld so long as it does not obstruct normative Jewish observance." They arrived at a plan which complied with and even exceeded the decree by arranging to make hats such as worn by Royalty, encircled by a ring of tails. This transformed an object of intended ridicule to a Crown. Further, they instituted that the number of tails should follow Jewish Numerology Gematria and be representative of the wearer's sacred intentions

Symbolism

To wear a Shtreimel is to wear a crown. Viewed from atop the head, the ring of tails are wrapped in clockwise spiral form. This bears the connotation that the spiritual forces invoked by the Shtreimel are radiating in such a fashion as to invoke the Divine Presence to become more tangible in creation. Arnon, Dan. A Hat for all Seasons.  does assert 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 the thirteen attributes of mercy, the numerical value (gematria) of the Hebrew word for life (חי) or the numerical value of the tetragrammaton^[3]. Contemporary Shtreimlach may include higher numbers of tails. At least one maker creates Shtreimelach with 42 tails, symbolizing the 42-letter Divine Name.

Manufacture

The shtreimel is typically custom-made for the intended wearer, of genuine fur, from the tips of the tails, typically from Canadian or Russian sable but also from stone marten, baum marten (Pine Marten) and American gray fox. The shtreimel is the most expensive article of Hasidic clothing, ranging in price from US$1000 to US$5400. It is possible to buy a shtreimel from synthetic fur and this is more common in Israel. Usually the bride's father purchases the shtreimel for the groom upon his wedding. Nowadays, it is customary in America to purchase two shtreimels: a cheaper version (sells for $800–1,500), called the regen shtreimel (rain shtreimel) is used for occasions where the expensive one may get damaged. In Israel, due to the economic circumstances of most members of the Hasidic community in that country, the vast majority of shtreimel-wearers only have one shtreimel. The manufacturers of shtreimels can be found in New York City, Montreal, Bnei Brak and Jerusalem. The shtreimel manufacturers (shtreimel machers in Yiddish) keep their trade a closely guarded secret ^[4].

Other clothing

The shtreimel is only worn in conjunction with other pieces of clothing which comprise 'Shabbos clothing'. The shtreimel is never worn with weekday clothing. While there are no formal rules as to when to wear a shtreimel, it is usually worn on the following occasions:

• Shabbat;
• holidays including: Rosh HaShana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Shemini Atzeret, Purim, Pesach, Shavuot;
• on (Chol HaMoed) of Pesach and Sukkot;
• on the evenings following the end of the above-mentioned days;
• at one's own wedding, or at weddings of family members, or weddings of a member of the family of one's Rebbe;
• during the seven days following one's wedding, or of the wedding of one's close family members (sheva brachot);
• at a brit milah.

Some Hasidic Rebbes will wear a Shtreimel on occasions when their Hasidim will not, such as when lighting the Hanukah menorah or when conducting a tish on Tu B'Shevat and Lag B'Omer, whereas other Rebbes may wear a kolpik on those occasions, and still others simply wear their weekday hat.

Jewish Custom

While there is strong religious custom for Jewish males to cover their heads (compare kippah), from the standpoint of Halakha (Jewish Law) there is no special religious significance to the shtreimel as compared to other head coverings. However, the wearing of two head coverings is considered to add additional spiritual merit, plus the presence of beautiful craftsmanship adds beatification and honor to the custom. The Shtreimel is always worn over a skull cap (yarmulke).

Other Jewish Headgear

Male Orthodox Jews can be highly conservative regarding headgear, and some traditional Jews still wear trilbys or homburgs and in France tricornes or in the UK top hats^{[citation needed]}. Such headgear is worn on special occasions (such as Shabbat), in the synagogue or by office holders such as rabbis and even where non-Jewish people in the country of origin have mostly stopped wearing them. After Napoleon conquered Poland in 1812 most Polish people adopted western European dress, not the conservative Jews who kept the old style including the shtreimel ^[3].

See also

• Spodik

References

• Philippi, Dieter (2009). Sammlung Philippi - Kopfbedeckungen in Glaube, Religion und Spiritualität,. St. Benno Verlag, Leipzig. ISBN 978-3-7462-2800-6.