| Shabbat Parashat Tazria Metzora Iyar 2, 5770 April 16 Shalom, I usually stay away from Israeli politics; everyone has a different opinion, and it is rarely the same as the opinion of anyone else, but everyone is passionate about his own! However, I doubt if any of you know what the hottest topic at the Knesset was a few months ago. The discussion was so heated that it actually became a threat to the stability of the government. If you think that the subject was related to Israel's security, nuclear proliferation, the status of Jerusalem, or perhaps the economic situation, you would find that all these guesses are wrong. The discussion was about a hat. And it was not just any old hat, it was about the "shtreimel," which is a hat made of fur and worn by Chassidic Jews on Shabbat and holidays. HERE IS A PICTURE OF THE HAT. This weird story began when a member of the Knesset from the Kadima party, Ronit Tirosh, suggested legislation forbidding the importation of articles of clothing made of animal fur. Israel has never allowed the manufacture of such items, and as in many other countries around the world, it is now seeking to limit the trade of animal furs, or anything made of such fur. When the proposal was brought up for discussion at the Knesset, Eliezer Menachem Moses of the Yahadut Hatorah party, affiliated with the ultraorthodox movement, objected vehemently. He said that it would greatly harm the Chassidic community. Upon seeing the puzzled faces of the other Knesset members, Moses had to give a quick lesson on the traditional garb of the Haredi community. He used the shtreimel as an example, explaining that such a law would prevent Chassidic Jews from practicing their long held and fiercely guarded traditions. A bit of research on the nature and history of the shtreimel is in order; A shtreimel 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. The shtreimel comprises a large circular piece of velvet surrounded by fur. The shtreimel is generally worn only after marriage. Rabbi Pinchas Koritzer (1726-1791) 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 sanctification, 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. The shtreimel is typically custom-made for the intended wearer. It is the most expensive article of Hasidic clothing, ranging in price from $1000 to $5400. It is possible to buy a shtreimel from synthetic fur and this is obviously cheaper. Usually a bride's father purchases the shtreimel for the groom upon his wedding. 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. Now you have all the information about shtreimels that you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask! The law forbidding the import of fur is close to passage, but in a nod to the haredi community, in Israel, there is a special exception for shtreimels. You may wonder why we are discussing this particular topic at all, and why this week in particular? After all, there may be many more suitable things to mention prior to the Shabbat that comes between Yom Hashoa and Yom Ha'atzmaut! I believe that this shtreimel story encapsulates the very essence of the reality in the state of Israel today. I live in a country that more than anything else is defined by its contradictions and conflicts; religious versus secular, left versus right, modern versus traditional, liberalism versus conservatism, Jew versus Muslim, and the list can go on and on forever. The key in Israel is to find a way to resolve those conflicts without relinquishing our values, our traditions and our beliefs. For instance, we can ban the import of fur, but we make an exception for the shreimel. Despite our many contradictions, we must find way to co-exist and thrive despite them. Given these contradictions, or perhaps because of them, Israel is still searching for a clear identity. We must be able to forge that identity by creating new traditions, while respecting the old one, and taking the best of both worlds. Sahbbat Shalom and Yom Atzmaut Same'ach from Jerusalem, Cantor Arik Wollheim
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