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Why do is it always/only the sons/grandsons of rebbes that where (a) bekeishes as little kids, and (b) why do they wear kolpiks (things similar to spodiks)?
Chassidus accepts the principle that one dresses princely and as a result behaves princely. The language is something like the chitzoniyus influences the penimiyus. Personally, I can accept this, however, clothes do not make the man. When Yaakov donned Eisav’s clothing, he did not become a rasha. Similarly, one can wear the costume of a rebbe, and will not automatically become one. Pedigree may mean something, but it does not substitute for the personal growth that is required for someone to achieve the status of a Manhig Yisroel. The frock does not create a Rosh Yeshiva, and the beketshe does not make someone any holier than another.
There have been a few people that we can remember who never wore the traditional garb of the Rosh Yeshiva, whose gadlus for Klal Yisroel was extreme. Anyone remember Rav Pam ZT”L? He wouldn’t even sit in the front of his Beis Hamedrash. Not mentioning others is in no way to imply exclusion. But there have been many. Chassidim have grown to place undue value to levush, and this detracts from a derech of Avodas Hashem that can be very meaningful. At the end, the garb worn in the kever is all the same, and we stand in front of the Beis Din Shel Maaloh without any of the fancy trappings of garb.
The Chofetz Chaim dressed very simply, like an average Yid. Even his hat was a common one.
That said, there are different derechs in this regard. You wouldn’t expect, or likely accept, if the King dressed like an average Dave.
“When Yaakov donned Eisav’s clothing, he did not become a rasha.”
True but chassidus teaches that it was the clothing of Esav that allowed Yaakov Ish Tam to act in a slightly deceptive manner. Clothes do not make a man but they definitely impact him.
Actors find themselves able to put on their act easier when they’re wearing their costumes
Chabadshlucha:
True and accurate. But with regards to Rebbishe kids, to proclaim them actors would be a put down, not an asset. My point is that one cannot rely on the levush to become something. To excel in Avodas Hashem, one needs to engage in hard, sincere work on one’s character. You cannot purchase madraigos of kedusha off the rack.
Agreed. But I funny think they’re putting in an act, I think that it just adds to the hard character etc. work they’re already doing but making it easier to make the right choices as it constantly reminds them who they are and what they represent. Not that I know that much about Rebishe children honestly, but that’s what would seem to make sense to me
Not sure what the focus of this thread is…..in many Chassidus, the Rav and his “court” often are wearing streimlach and bekeshes that are VERY fashionable by chassideshe standards costing thousands of dollars and clearly distinguishable from the lvush worn by the 99 percentile of the Rav’s chassidim. Not saying its right, wrong or simply irrelevant but “lvush” is obviously meant to create a class sytem where the leadership/nobility is a step up (sartorially) from the peasants…
Non-Chasidishe rabbonim also wear levush markedly different than the hamon hoam.
Dressing up young kids in “adult” lvush sometimes is visually jarring where the streimlach are bigger than the kids. However, in the alte heim, the nobility and monarchy would always dress their kids in royal attire from almost the day they were born
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