Abekishe orbeketche (Yiddish:בעקעטשעbeketche orבעקישעbekishe), is a type offrock coat, usually made of blacksilk orpolyester, worn byHasidic Jews, and by some non-HasidicHaredi Jews.[1] The bekishe is worn mainly onShabbos andJewish holidays, or at weddings and other such events. During the week, it is customary to wear arekel, made of wool or polyester, looking like a regular double-breasted suit, only longer. Hassidic rabbis who wear a bekishe during the week will wear a more ornate version for Shabbos, often lined with velvet or some color other than or in addition to black.
The New York Times described theBekeshe as a "fancier Sabbath version" of theRekel.[2]
Thebekishe derives from the Hungarianbekesc. 16th century, a sort of fur-lined coat with a collar, fastened by clasps. Thebekes was often richly decorated, sometimes withgalloon.[3] One force driving caution with use of wool is the Biblical injunction againstmixing it with linen (Lev. 19:19; Deut. 22:11).[3]
The bekishe is typically black.[4] There are two main types of bekishe. The glatt (plain, lit. smooth) bekishe is solid colored, and is usually worn forFriday night and Saturdaymorning prayers. For Shabbos meals, the patterned bekishe, also known as a tish bekishe (table Bekishe), is worn. The tish bekishe is also worn by some during the Shabbosafternoon prayer service and the night after Shabbos. Both can be made of silk, although nowadays it is usually polyester. Some non-Hassidic Orthodox Jews wear a tish bekishe at home during the Shabbos meals. Many Hassidic Rebbes, mainly of Hungarian lineage, weartish bekishes with various colors, usually either blue or silver, often with black. Many Hassidic Rebbes wearsamet (velvet) orstrohkes (velvet piping), symbolizingtefillin, on the bekeshe.
The gold and blue striped garments worn by Yerushalmi Haredim such asToldos Aharon,Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok,Dushinsky,Neturei Karta,Shomer Emunim,Pinsk-Karlin, and many but not all inBreslov andKarlin-Stolin, as well as other non-affiliated Yerushalmi Haredim such as thePerushim are calledkaftans. Those members of these movements centred in Jerusalem or one of the Jerusalem-affiliated suburbs such asBeitar Illit,Ramat Beit Shemesh orModi'in Illit wear these gold coats. Those who live further away, for example inBnei Brak,Ashdod or outside of E. Israel, usually wear blackbekishes like most other Hasidim, as do some of those who live in Jerusalem.
The goldkaftan[3][5] is generally worn after marriage; before marriage, either a black bekishe or weekday-style clothing is worn on days when a bekishe is usually worn. Some of those who wear the gold bekishe switch to black on Shabbos afternoon beforeMincha; this is seen in, for example, Dushinsky and with many of the Prushim.
MarriedChabad hasidim wear a long blackkapoteh (frock coat) instead of abekishe.[4] Thekapoteh orfrak, besides its unique waist seam construction, has four buttons in the front (as opposed to six [or eight inNadvorna - Kretschnef] on the front of a bekishe), as well as slit in the back, which is lacking on the bekishe. The kapoteh can be made of either wool or silk.[6] Although black is the preferred predominant color,[7] other hues can be present, including on thebuttonholes.[4]
in bright hues
in kaftan and yarmulkah
and a kapote, or silk robe.
his long black kapote
Media related toCategory:Bekishes at Wikimedia Commons