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Thursday, 11 Adar II, 5784
  |  March 21, 2024

Which Hat Came First?

From the COLlive inbox: A Lubavitcher explains his confusion about an op-ed critical of Bochurim who want to swap fedora hats for kasket caps. Full Story

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to#48
January 29, 2015 11:24 am

Although “chabad munt pnimeyus”, but wee must not forget chitzoynius either, since “chitzoynius Vaayst Aff Pneemeeyos”. and besides, Livushim are Mamshich the Etzem. Also, how can you be mekushar to the Rebbe if you don’t wear the same hat that he wore??????

chabad
January 28, 2015 7:22 pm

yes we have to focus on pnimiyus more than chitzoniyus

According to the Ein Od Milvado
January 28, 2015 11:02 am

philosophy, nothing exists besides Him, not even your article, not even kaskets, and HaSchem is Everywhere, even in a baseball cap, even inside a Taliban Turban.

So Hashem is certianly inside the Fedora.

I beleive Hashem wrote in his Bible to respect ones Elder’s, even if their ways seem old fashioned, fake, and lacks the younger generations tendacy toward the truth’s of Ein Old MillVaddo, such as is found in our SmartPhones. Or our Kaskets.

I perfer the OLD old milVaddo.

נו באמת
January 28, 2015 10:47 am

סוג הכובע זה לא מה שקובע אלא מה הגורם להחלפתו, ודי למבין…

not important
January 28, 2015 4:12 am

The focus should be what’s inside the head and not what is on top of it.

Dear author
January 28, 2015 12:50 am

Why is this helpful. Of course were confused, issues like these are not simple. And its hurtful when you blatantly expose them, not even offering any kind of solution or answer.
If you don’t have anything constructive to say, why write another critical piece that basically gives the message that we are a chitzoniesdik generation and theres nothing we can do about it.
Please use your great writing abilities to spread positive messages!

Which hat came first
January 27, 2015 9:28 pm

Why can’t we just choose a different brand hat. Borsalino is way to expensive and they keep raising the prices. Can we get suggestions for other brand hats?

I wrote #15
January 27, 2015 6:38 pm

Even though I agree with #12’s points, I do believe you have a writing talent.

Very nice article but not a true historical argument
January 27, 2015 6:29 pm

Please , check some immigration history from Europe to us , Chabad history of immigration …. You will find the whole picture and your article will look more according to facts and not your feelings ….
When you want to copy a Rebe , follow his chochma , bina and das , not his outfits … So doesn’t matter what will be on your head , matter what is inside your head …

to no. 28
January 27, 2015 1:42 pm

ah nice to hear from you !! i agree wholheartedly
old friend

Yakov Kirschenbaum
January 27, 2015 1:35 pm

BSD

The anonymous author is choosing to ignore the fact that the fedora has indeed become the lubavitch levush for many years now (thanks to the Rebbe). The fact that 70 years ago, the people were more chassidish or less “megusham” doesn’t change that and is irrelevant.

All the drama is stupidity
January 27, 2015 11:47 am

What’s the changing for?
Borsalino’s are too expensive?
So buy from a different company.
Un veiter gefurin.
Hachonos leYud Shvat…

to #9 et al.
January 27, 2015 11:45 am

actually, no, not everyone agrees with “wear what you Like.” imagine an army in which everyone wore what they liked. for better or for worse, what you wear helps identify who you choose to affiliate with. as for the cap, casquette, kasket, or however you choose to spell it, (homophones notwithstanding, casket ,to me, is an arone r”l, or a barrel) when worn in the U.S.(i don’t know about europe or israel) it’s a concession to modernity. The old fashioned Russian kasket was the equivalent of their fedora. A “with-it” kasket on a bochur or yungerman today projects an artsy… Read more »

well explaned
January 27, 2015 11:29 am

but to all of the buchrem its erev yud shvat
stop wasteing your time between a kasket a hat wear whaterver you want just get of of col and sit and learn

with the old breed
January 27, 2015 10:48 am

So does Mendel get married and he and his bride go off into the sunset with their e-lives?
Mendel we love you and wish you the best, the world is makes fun of you and yet you go on. generation after generation, OK so you don’t get it… that does not stop you.
thank goodness you have a head or where would you put your hat.

So many people who are missing the point
January 27, 2015 9:55 am

Why are you holding on to the fedora as the symbol of your entire Yiddishkeit/chassidishkeit?

I really do not want my boys growing up with the message that as long as you stick a fedora on your head all’s well.

I care more about what’s inside your head than what’s on top of it.

Rav Heller Shlita
January 27, 2015 9:36 am

I have it second hand from one of his former talmidim who currently a rosh (of a real) kollel, that Rav Heller has long encouraged less expensive hats of the kasket or other russian varietes. My friend, the Rosh Kollel, told me this as I noticed that he was wearing a fur covered hat. I like more where the original op-ed was coming from in that there is a modern (and even not so modern) tendency to rationlize, abstract and, ultimately, do away with true holy minhagim, and we need to suspect anything that approaches that, but in this case,… Read more »

The point has been missed
January 27, 2015 9:17 am

The issue is the cost. The Rebbe while wearing a fedora wore the same one for years on end. Now the manufactures are taking advantage just like in any religious article and jacking up the price knowing that the shtetel yidden will blindly follow. We should embrace change on all levels and if people are so worried about keeping the levush and hiddurim of mitzvos let them start a fund for all the peopel that can’t afford it or just don’t care to live and die by the shtetel rules.

Fedora
January 27, 2015 8:12 am

Many Lubs had already changed from the fedoras with wide brims to thinner brims Now ,for different reasons some they want to eliminate the fedora completely Many people ( shluchim included) wear fedora only on Shabbos Yetzer ara is a genius ,it works in different avenues to win We have to go back to fedoras with wide brims,and never change ( no for fashion no for money no for politics Emet doesn’t change. The lebushim that the Rebbe established should not change If you want to wear cakete is ok, or wathever you want BUT the official lebushim should be… Read more »

23 speaks the truth
January 27, 2015 8:12 am

Unfortunately there is too much emphasis on chitzonius and not enough of pnimius. A bochur from 20 years ago could be very chasidish and wear striped shirts. Today the bochur who wears white shirts is no where near on the level of pnimius as litlle as 20 years ago…….

Curiosity and Ignorance
January 27, 2015 7:42 am

What is the argument for retaining the fedoras … the fact the rebbe wore one? Or did the rebbe speak about it and/or write about it?

Much appreciated!
January 27, 2015 5:52 am

Look back at photos of early farbrengens and you can see the older chassidim (who led lives of untold mesiras nefesh in Russia) wearing casquettes. Every step the Rebbe took as Rebbe was obviously with precise timing and true dedicated purpose, but if only all our Borsalino/fedora clad bochrim and men would have the Rebbe’s real concerns in mind. The level of hiskashrus for example of Reb Mendel Futerfas Z”L and of all those that were mashpia in Kfar Chabad in the early years under the Rebbe’s leadership, inspired generations and left the most stirring, unforgettable memories – the humble… Read more »

Seriously!
January 27, 2015 5:16 am

What with terrorist , illness, poverty and teens going bonkers, u going on about hats??!! Time to check what’s going on beneath the hat!!!

to #12
January 27, 2015 5:10 am

If the black hat was chosen by the rebbe as a chassidus levush, how come the rebbe told specific chassidim and mashpiem not to change from their casket or shtreimel. WHO ARE YOU TO MAKE THESE DECISIONS FOR LUBAVITCH!!!

shidduch crisis
January 27, 2015 5:01 am

As girl looking for a shidduch, it seems like bochurim take off the hat, and put on some substitute in hope that girls will find them more with it. But, unfortunately, the opposite is true. Girls want the black hat. They want commitment to values, and taking off the hat seems to show otherwise.

Why is it comming as a thought to change our levush
January 27, 2015 1:51 am

Then they changed their levush by changing their casket to fedora because of the ways of the goyim and now hat caskets are more in style we are doing the exact same thing by changing that fedora to a casket And even if right now this mendle without his hat is “no more mendle” – meaning that he is not doing anything for Hashem who knows exactly what he does at all times, he is doing it for his mashgiach which is a problem on its own, now not only does he not want to act like a chossid on… Read more »

He's right - about more than one point
January 27, 2015 1:22 am

1) Our yeshivos became so focused on the l’vush that they are missing getting to the inner-bochur, hence the bull-shoving the author mentions. When I was growing up, there was no “white-shirt” rule – certainly not starting in Pre-1A. The kids all wore Danskins – look back at school class pics and you will see what I am saying is true. Please show me where it is written that the Rebbe said for 5 yr olds and up that wearing a white shirt will make one more chassidish. What happened to Shabbos clothing? 2) While you’re looking at pics of… Read more »

u are all funny
January 27, 2015 12:54 am

while the Rebbe was wearing the lub hat many chassidim still continued to wear casquettes. why would anyone think that they have to wear the same hat the Rebbe wears. The Rebbe is a REBBE, we shouldn’t have the feeling we gotta wear what the rebbe wears- that is as if saying if our king wears a crown we should all.

why only the fedora?
January 27, 2015 12:51 am

I am asking a serious question. If the black fedora is a sign of hiskashrus, then why not also the kapota? Or can I wear a green tweed sport coat and grey pants as long as I wear a black fedora?

you are wrong
January 27, 2015 12:50 am

it starts with the hat then the kapota shrinks and you turn around 2 years later and your shaving your beard

To #12
January 27, 2015 12:45 am

Thank-you

# 12
January 27, 2015 12:43 am

how many people so you know that the rebbe asked to wear a fedora? many people wanted to dress like the Rebbe. But the rebbe didn’t ask them to buy a fedora. If the rebbe does it there must be a good reason. I don’t ask questions. But if I don’t want to copy the Rebbe then I’m intilted to serve hashem bsimcha. Do I have to wear. White shirt and a silk capote everyday. What about black shoes. Lubavitcher chasidim where never into levush.

u r a great writer
January 27, 2015 12:23 am

And you are spot on.
And by the way i think the casquette symbolizes simplicity. Anivus, not into gashmius…unless you are wearing it to make a statement. And the same vice versa. The black hat symbolizes a certain standard in jewishness, unless you are wearing it to make a statement.

Sholom uVrochoh.
January 27, 2015 12:03 am

With regard to the subject that has arisen recently about what a Chosid puts on his head as a covering: A fedora is worn today since it is meilevushei Sorei HaMelech, ever since the Rebbe prescribed it, for all intents and purposes. There has been no change in this regard. (Note: Someone who is working “in the field” might dress accordingly, with cargo pants and a casquette, as applicable in various circumstances.) Therefore, those who are training as Sorei HaMelech (Bochurim) should undoubtedly dress accordingly, yet, Bochurim should be focusing on Learning, more than chitzoiniyusdike levush. This cannot be stressed… Read more »

to # 12
January 26, 2015 11:43 pm

well said!

Great article
January 26, 2015 11:39 pm

Unfortunately…..if Mendel were to take off the hat, there might just be no more Mendel… But that’s not a reason to keep on the hat…..

ATT: writer
January 26, 2015 11:26 pm

Please write more articles, you write so well! A pleasure to read. We need more enjoyable articles! Man O man!

This is so misguided.
January 26, 2015 10:57 pm

Our Chassidishe levush was NOT established by the thoughtless or thoughtful choices of Chassidim when they disembarked a boat on Ellis Island to forge a brave new path in the New World… NO! Regardless of what hat various Chassidim chose when they arrived in the USA (including top hats, fedoras, casquettes and baseball caps)… OUR Chassidishe levush was chosen by OUR REBBE! There is NO doubt about this. And no photo depicting OUR REBBE himself once upon a time wearing a casquette will change the fact that OUR REBBE chose a fedora as the ‘uniform’ of his Chassidim. Note: This… Read more »

I'm not confused
January 26, 2015 10:21 pm

I get it. Darling, we just want to keep our tradition. The rebbe wore black fedoras, so we will too. We will not wear caskets because of some Mendel.
Darling, YOU made me confused…

a chasidishe look!
January 26, 2015 9:51 pm

how come no one complains ” about the cost of every new electronic gadgets on the market ” the way they complain about the cost of the hats ?could it be another thing to try and make the community look more modern then it is already ?

i think....
January 26, 2015 9:49 pm

everyone should wear what they want and not make such a big deal out of it. does anyone else feel this way?

this is right on
January 26, 2015 9:49 pm

when i studied in sem. in kfar all the boys wore caskets all week. no , they are not less chassidsh then our crown heights boys, maybe the opposite.
since caskets came first it is Kosher v’yosher

bochur
January 26, 2015 9:46 pm

Our rebbe wore a black fedora, that is why we where one, period.

You are one talented fellow
January 26, 2015 9:45 pm

Very well written, and to the point.

chassidishe lvush
January 26, 2015 9:27 pm

The tone and negativity of this article is very disturbing!
I agree with.the original op ed, a chassidishe lvush is crucial, not only in the way it defines us as chassidim to the outside, but, as the story of the tzemach tzedeks chossid, a chassidishe
lvush actually beautifies the neshama!
What is a chassidishe
lvush for us as lubavitcher chassidim now? The way the Rebbe wants and expects it to be, the way its always been for us..a (fedora) hat, jacket, white shirt, etc ( with the hat and jacket worn whenever going out into the street..)

aah so so entertaining
January 26, 2015 9:23 pm

i couldn’t believe another article about the hats- but yes you are right!!

u r a great writer
January 26, 2015 9:03 pm

And you are spot on.
And ny the way i think the casquette symbolizes simplicity. Anivus, not into gashmius…unless you are wearing it to make a statement. And the same vice versa. The black hat symbolizes a certain standard in jewishness, unless you are wearing it to make a statement.

impressed
January 26, 2015 9:00 pm

You wrote nicely and kept us entertained. You have quite some descriptive ability and quality writing.
I know I missed the point….
I encourage you to use your writing talent for echad!

A Lubavitcher
January 26, 2015 8:51 pm

You are great writer, of course you are stereotyping. Nah rather Mendel is the exception most of our bochurim resemble the chasidim of yesteryear….

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