The Hasidic "bekishe".

A bekishe is a long coat, usually made of black silk or polyester worn by Hassidic Jews. Most Hasidim only wear them on special occasions, such as the Sabbath and other Jewish holidays, or at weddings and other events. During the week, most Hasidim wear a rekel, which is made of wool or polyester, looking like a regular double-breasted suit, only longer. Many Hassidic rabbis wear a bekishe during the week. In such a case, they will wear a fancier bekishe for Sabbath, often lined with velvet. Image File history File links Bekishe. ... Image File history File links Bekishe. ... Coat can refer to any one of the following: The fur coat of a mammal. ... Silk weaver Silk is a natural protein fiber that can be woven into textiles. ... For the film, see the article Polyester (film) Close-up of a polyester shirt SEM picture of a bend in a high surface area polyester fiber with a seven-lobed cross section Polyester is a category of polymers, or, more specifically condensation polymers, which contain the ester functional group in... Hasidic Judaism (from the Hebrew: Chasidut חסידות, meaning pious, from the Hebrew root word chesed חסד meaning loving kindness) is a Haredi Jewish religious movement. ... Shabbat (שבת shabbāṯ, rest in Hebrew, or Shabbos in Ashkenazic pronunciation), is the weekly day of rest in Judaism. ... A Jewish holiday or Jewish Festival is a day or series of days observed by Jews as holy or secular commemorations of important events in Jewish history. ...

There are two Bekishe types. The Zaiden or silk Bekishe (pictured here) is solid colored, and is usually worn for Friday and Saturday morning prayers. For Sabbath meals, the patterned (less expensive) polyester Bekishe, with an attatched belt, also known as a Chalat or a Tish Bekishe, is worn. The Tish Bekishe is also worn during the Saturday afternoon prayer service and the night after the Sabbath. Some non-Hassidic Orthodox Jews wear a Tish Bekishe at home during the Sabbath meals. Many Hassidic Rebbes wear Tish Bekishes with various colors, usually either, blue, silver, or white, often with black.

Most married Chabad hasidim wear a Kapoteh, a long black frock coat which is nearly identical to a Bekishe. The Kapoteh has a slit in the back and one corner of the hem rounded off, in order that the garment should not require Tzitzit. A Kapoteh has four buttons in the front and two in the back. Many non-Hassidic Rabbis wear a Kapoteh as well. A Bekishe has six bottons in the front. A zeidineh bekishe has two buttons in the back as well. Chabad Lubavitch, also known as Lubavitch Chabad, is a large branch of Hasidic Judaism. ... Corporal in a nine-button frock coat, 1862 A frock coat is a mens coat introduced in the early nineteenth century characterized by knee-length skirts all around, in contrast to tail coats and cutaways. ... Tzitzit (Ashkenazi pronunciation: tzitzis) are fringes or tassles (Hebrew: ציצת (Biblical), ציצית (Mishnaic)) found on a tallit worn by observant Jews as part of practicing Judaism. ...

External links

• Why the Long Black Coat? chabad.org