Friday, April 12, 1968-47
Fashions Linked to Biblical, Talmudic Lore
Vietnam Chaplains' Passover Message
Defined in Rubens"Jewish Costume Histor ' The following is the text of you for a joyous Passover. We
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
N
N
,
author reviews the biblical as well
as talmudic periods and his photo-
graphic record dates back to 2250-
2040 BCE, with the Sumerian fig-
ure, proceeding to the Egyptian
details (1450 BCE) and the suc-
cessive eras, supplementing them
with definitive quotations from the
Bible and other sources.
There is, as an example, this
interesting note: "It cannot be as-
sumed from the dress described in
the Book of Daniel that Persian
fashions were in vogue among Jews
everywhere of that period. This
may have been true of Babylon
but from the time of Alexander
the Jews of Palestine and Egypt
were subject to very strong Hel-
lenizing influences."
Rubens' text includes a chart
listing principal garments men-
tioned in the Mithash, Mishna and
Talmud, 16 having been designated
in the Talmud as essential. He de-
scribes the tallith as well as the
arba kanfot or the tallith katan
worn to fulfill the requirements
of Numbers xv:38 and Deuteronomy
xxii:12.
Ruben's study is unlimited. He
turns to the Eastern World, de-
scribes the costume in China, un-
der Islam, in the Turkish empire,
in Egypt, Tripoli, Tunisia, Al-
geria, Morocco and India.
In each instance, there are so
many fascinating factors that the
customs of the countries delineat-
ed present most valuable - facts and
interesting reading. A superb idea
_i_s acquired about the manner of
life, the appearances of the women,
their fashionable emphases, their
preferences for dress and jewel.
The author's coverage of the sub-
ject relating to the Western World
commences with the medieval pe-
riod, shows early English dress of
the 12th Century, as worn by men
as well as women, and covers de-
tails about Spain, France, Sweden,
Germany, Italy, Portugal. Austria,
Poland, Russia, Denmark, Holland.
Adding immensely to the value
of this study is the fact that in
describing the compulsive dress
it reveals the elements of anti-
Semitism and there are descrip-
tions of the religious factors in
showing the Sephardi and Ash
kenazi rabbinical and other at-
tires. The illustrative material
and the notes on rabbinical cos-
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tumes are in themselves impres-
sive indications of the extent of
HAPPY PASOVER
I
Happy Passover to Our
Rubens' study.
Friends and Patrons
Appended to the volume are ex-
U. T. Garden
from the laws of 1416 made
tracts
Ray's
Bridal
Salon
Restaurant
by
a
commission
in Italy, those of
Gowns for All Occasions
7105 W. McNichols
a Castilian Jewish synod in 1432,
10909
Grand
River
WE
3-4636
UN 3-1454
sumptuary regulations of the Metz
1530 Woodward WO 5-0922
Ample Parking
Jewish community in 1690, Ham-
—,1 burg regulations in 1715, and oth-
■
er sumptuary laws.
"A History of Jewish Costume"
is an extensive work of research
and of an able collector's . photo-
graphic treasures. It will fascinate
the reader and will serve as a guide
BEST WISHES TO ALL OUR
for students of fashion involving
trends through the ages.
Alfred Rubens, fellow of the So-
ciety of Antiquaries of London and
of the Royal Historical Society, has
made it a life's hobby to collect
drawings, prints and basic his-
torical material about Jewish life
and his "Anglo-Jewish Portraits"
and "A Jewish Iconography" al-
ready point to definite contribu-
tions to the gathering of valuable
data relating to Jewry.
His newest work, "A History of
Jewish Costume," published by
Funk and Wagnalls (380 Madison,
NY17) enhances his labors and
points to his pioneering efforts
as a collector of unusual photo-
graphs and the facts associated
with them. This is a work that is
much more intrinsic than fashion.
It combines material about cos-
turnes in many lands, during sev-
eral centuries, and the ways of
life of the communities whence
these antiques stem. They are
linked with mysteries about dress
and the people wearing them.
So vast is this work that the
author has included in it 306 il-
lustrations, each serving a de-
finite purpose in illustrating the
subject matter.
There is an interesting explana-
tory note to this volume in a fore-
word by James Laver, who, defin-
ing "literature of fashion," states
that the difficulty of presenting
a coherent picture, created by the
long historic Jewish communities'
experiences, create complexity. He ,
points to "the fact that Jews have
frequently been compelled to adopt
a special_ costume, often imposed
as a mark of contempt but finally
SEASON GREETINGS
accepted as a badge of honor. The
characteristic dress of the Polish
SAM'S
Jew, for example, although not as
FRUIT MARKET
common as it was 50 years ago,
can be seen in certain parts of
13510 W. 7 Mile
London even today."
342-4071
The Londoner Laver adds that
Jews are "losing their distinctive
dress" and suggests that it is "high
■
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■
time that a museum of Jewish cos-
HOLIDAY GREETINGS
tume should have been established
in Israel." Rubens' volume thus
SKY DIRT
is commended by him as appropri-
SOIL
ate at this time.
For Every Need
Rubens' descriptive essays
15450 Schaefer, N. of Fenkell
which accompany his collected
VE 7-9380
illustrations of costumes ana-
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lyze the various periods under
review. He commences by refer 7
■
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ring to Adam and Eve who were
Holiday Greetings
"concerned about nudity only
after they had acquired Knowl-
edge" and that now "it is gener-
ally accepted that modesty is a
I
sophisticated feeling unknown to
i
primitive man." He emphasizes
24848 Southfield
• that dress originated "from the
357-1747
urge for decoration . . . not in
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■
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■
conflict with Jewish teaching"
i.Q.9....QULLSLULQ_WW1519-512-9-W- ,
because "according to the rabbis
`the Lord's glory is man and
Happy Passover
man's ornament is his clothes' "
(Midrash Tanhuma) and that
Wayne
"clothes were more important
Standard Service
than food and drink" (Mishna).
20141 W. 8 Mile Rd.
A variety of Jewish experiences
Detroit, Michigan
through the ages is covered in the
KE 8-9875
descriptive essays and in the an-
411'1360008000000000000 0 067 notations of the photographs. The
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our continued good
g e tin
g to the pray for
the P assover re
American Jewish community from
health and safety. Our mission is
the Jewish chaplains in Vietnam to serve you, and we are ready
—Capt. Gerry J. Rosenberg, Lt.
and willing to do this at any time
Sheldon M. Kirsch of Detroit,
and at any place.
Capt. Shalom I. Gliksman and
We also extend our best wishes
Capt. Franklin C. Breslau. The
message, sent from Cain Ranh to the Jewish community of the
United States through the Com-
Bay to the commission on Jew-
mission on Jewish Chaplaincy of
ish. chaplaincy of the National
Jewish Welfare Board, offers a the National Jewish Welfare Board,
prayer for peace and conveys without whose help and assistance
deepest appreciation in the name our program could not exist. The
of Jewish men in uniform for special foods which we eat during
religious and morale services
provided them by American this festival have been sent to us
Jewry trough JWB. The chap- through its good offices and of its
cooperating organizations, such as
laincy contmission is made up of
Jewish federations and the United
representatives of the Central
Conference of American Rabbis Jewish . Appeal of Greater New
(Reform), the Rabbinical As-
York, who "care" for us. To each
sembly of America (Conserva-
of them, our heartfelt thanks.
tive) and the Rabbinical Council
Though far from home and the
of America (Orthodox).
ones we love, let us join in the
* * *
Passover is a time for recount- prayer that this festival of Pass-
ing the deeds of our ancestors over will herald a new era of peace
during their flight from Egypt, for all mankind, where a man may
and we, as Jews, are commanded live in peace in dignity, and where
to retell this timeless saga. The all men will recognize that they
message of Passover is the call are brothers. As the Bible tells us,
to freedom. It is one which touches Be strong and of good courage,
each man for it marks us as a and trust in the Lord."
member of an ancient and honored
people.
Holiday Greetings
Here in Vietnam, from the DMZ
to the tip of the Delta, men will
Witmer Bros. Meat
gather to retell the story of the
Distributors
Exodus from Egypt and the strug-
Ed-Jim-Jerry
gle of the Jewish people to achieve
freedom and human dignity. How
2514 Perry St.
Detroit
appropriate a place to celebrate
825-2061
the festival. Each of us is engaged
in the struggle to bring freedom
and human dignity to the people of
Vietnam. be he city-dweller, vil-
lager, Montagnard, or inhabitant
of a small hamlet. In this struggle,
we muster all our energies and ask
for Divine guidance and assistance.
We, the Jewish chaplains with
the U.S. Armed Forces in Vietnam,
extend our best wishes to each of
FASHIONS
FOR
MEN
OF
ALL
AGES
Passover Greetings
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20233 W. 7 Mile Rd.
Between Kentfield and Heyden
KE 4-7522
Open Sun. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Daily 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
stores for men and boys
01111M434
(1•0411111111.0111111101.0.1•110.0
FRIENDS AND PATRONS
GREETINGS
FOR A
gest WisAes
for
g oyous tAssover
to
Pastor Company
JOYOUS PASSOVER
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7437 East Jefferson, Detroit
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MR. AND MRS. EARL RUBY
Happy Holiday
AND FAMILY
STEVE PETIX
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Season's Greetings
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Detroit — Birmingham
Emma Schauer, President
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