What do rabbis wear?

Answer 1

Reform and Conservative Answer

Rabbis often follow the custom of wearing robes during the Shabbat and holiday services. The origin of these Robes is 19th Century Europe, where Rabbis were closely assocated with university professors (who wore robes).

Also, most rabbis will wear a kippah on their heads, at least during services. A Tallit, or prayer shawl is also very common, if not obligatory.

Some modern congregations, require no special clothing at all, either for male or female Rabbis, other than a kippah and tallit.

Orthodox Answer

I will only be discussing the traditional garb of MALE Jews herein, as only men can become Rabbis in the Orthodox tradition. Some reformed sects allow for women to become rabbis, and generally they wear some feminized form of what the male rabbi's would wear.

An Orthodox (traditional, very religious) rabbi will wear a kippah (or, in Yiddish -- a Yarmulke -- the little round cap that fits over the top of the head). He will also generally wear a black hat on top of that -- especially if he is Hasidim (a very religious and tradition-oriented sect of Jews) -- and the type of black hat that is worn will vary based on sect and local tradition, but common versions include a black hat that looks like a cowboy hat, a black hat that looks like a short top-hat, and also -- common with Russian Jewish lineage -- a black hat covered with a ring of animal fur. Hasidic Jews will also have the long, curley ringlets on either side of his head (where sideburns would be) called Peyes.

An orthodox rabbi will always wear black pants and a black waistcoat with a white button down shirt. Modern Orthodox rabbi's do not hold to this level of Sniut (the laws of Jewish modesty). An orthodox rabbi can also be found to have strings visibly dangling from his pockets -- this is from a traditional garment worn under the shirt called tzit-tzit.

Tzit-tzit is like a t-shirt with the sides cut out (so it drapes over the shoulders, with four bundles of strings that hang down from each of the four corners of the garment, which are generally allowed to hang outside the clothing. They represent G-d's presence on all corners of the world (omnipresence). When praying -- or dovening, in Hebrew -- the rabbi will cover his head and shoulders with a rug-like cloth called Tallit,which all men wear while praying (women do not).

Also, while praying a Rabbi will wear a little black box attached to leather cables tied around his forehead and forearm. These little boxes are called Tefillin and contain inscriptions of fundamental Jewish prayers. Only men wear them, and donning Teffilin requires special prayers and purity of thought.

Answer 2

There is no specific clothings a rabbi is required to wear. Generally, he will have modest, dignified clothing, and a kippah (and/or a hat) on his head.

Answer 3

Some rabbis, perhaps most, wear a regular suit. Most rabbis wear a kippa (cap) and/or a hat.

Some Orthodox rabbis wear a longer type of suit (a frock-coat).

Answer 4

A Rabbi is a Jewish teacher. There is no special clothing that distinguishes a rabbi from any other Jewish person.