Why do orthodox jews always wear black rags?

Question

after 4000 years of wearing the same design and same colour, surly by now must catch up with fashion.

Answer 1

Because who can picture an orthodox rabbi wearing a hot pink suit?

Answer 2

The reason for black is based on the Shulkhan Aruch, the Code of Jewish Law. It reads, "A Jew is forbidden to change his clothing to be in fashion with the people about him. The color black is indicitive of modesty. He may not change even a knot or the color to imitate them." The knot probably meens the way it is woven.

Now as to the 4000 years of same fashion, the fashion does change. I have long, black coat I wear that is unfortunately about 5 years out of fashion right now. THe fashion simply changes along different lines based on different desires and whims.

Just like it might be hard for an Orthodox Jew who dresses traditionally to understand that the fashion of jeans has changed at all since 1860, it's hard for people who don't wear chasidic clothes to see that the fashion changes as well.

Generally the changes are yearly, just like in the general fashion market, and will involve collar width, the length might come up or down 2 inches, patter of stripes in the summer clothes, types of cuffs on the pants, how high the coats close, etc.

Also there is a difference depending on how much a person is willing to spend. I spend about 75$ for a coat, so mine could be described as a rag. It's just not that nice. A rich man might spend 2,000$ and it will be noticeably quite finer. Most people spend about 250$ just like for a normal suit.

Answer 3

The black cloth orthodox Jews wear is a custom developed in eastern Europe during the last 500 years. Jews from other countries wear an older fashion which looks like a full body coat with a head cover.
the repeating items of cloth are the head cover, that is different among various Jewish groups and the body prayer cover, which is a very ancient custom, a little similar to Greek togas.

Answer 4

Any religion that determines what clothing you must wear or hair you should have is a fools religion. Religion is a state of mind not a state of dress or appearance. An entirely personal experience and not to be ordered and controlled and bounded. Personally I think you're all mad. You will never know in your lifetime so why worry now, wait and see when you go. Nothing you can do to change what will be in the end

Answer 5

they could placed on inspite of they prefer. and prefer human beings everywhere, they have a tendency to dress like others they prefer and appreciate, typically leaders. no matter if this is IBM, Apple, or a non secular company, human beings do dress alike. And in case you have ever been to an "option" music live performance, you've seen how similar each human being seems at the same time as they are all attempting to dress different yet do it in the exact same way...

Answer 6

I don,t Know -- but at least they Don,t wear veils , Burkhas and run around in total Disguise - so we don,t know if it is a Man or a Woman we are looking at--- ???? But Perhaps they have their own reason for the Disguise ??????

Answer 7

They don't always wear black, they just like dark colors. It's to show humility and modesty.

Answer 8

These are Hasidic Jews and some of their dress is 14th cent. Germany.

Answer 9

Black just never goes out od style. Look at funeral directors FFS!!

Answer 10

It same to work!

Jewish Culture = Jewish Senators and Jewish Bush Advisers

Americans without Culture = Ghettos!