To Top It Off

810-544-4500

he story behind those furry hats.

3071 W. 12 Mile • Berkley

LIZABETH APPLEBAUM ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Q: Many times I have read me from here, until I achieve have 13 fur "tails," said to re-
flect certain mystical, religious
Theodor Herzl's The Jewish State revenge over the anti-Semites concepts.
and joy over their downfall."
and come across the name Moritz
Though on occasion you'll
Nonetheless, Rabbi Guede-
Guedemann. I also read that Baron mann initially supported Her- see young boys wearing a
de Hirsch, Baron Rothschild and zl's book. When it was streimel, generally men don't
Moritz Guedemann were the fig- published to a storm of con- don the hat until they are mar-
ried. (Usually it's a gift from
ures Herzl thought would be most troversy, however, he changed the father-in-law.)
his mind, and even wrote his
influential in helping write and own work, Nationaljudentum,
publish his book. I've heard of the published in 1897, in which he
IMPORTANT TELL ME
former two, of course, but who the denounced Herzl and claimed
WHY UPDATES
that there was no "Jewish peo-
heck is Moritz Guedemann?
A: Born in 1835, Moritz ple."
• Many thanks to Bobbie
Guedemann was a native of
Berkowitz of Skokie, Ill.,
Austria, a rabbi and a histori-
who sent us this vital news
Q: From time to time I see pic-
an who did indeed have a pro-
report about Tell Me Why's
found connection to Theodor tures of Jews, mostly from east-
favorite singer, Barry
Herzl.
ern Europe, wearing huge hats that
Manilow:
Guedemann served as a appear to be covered with fur. Is
According to a report
rabbi in Vienna, where he this typical wear among certain
from the Associated Press,
was known as a liberal schoar
an Arizonajudge is suing
but a religious traditionalist. Orthodox Jews?
the wildly talented star
For a time he headed
because a Barry
the city's beit din,
Manilow concert left his
including during the s
ears ringing. In his
mid-1800s, which a
deposition, Judge Philip
saw a dramatic LI
Espinosa said he had
growth in the city's ff,
thought the concert,
Jewish community °
which his wife forced
and an increase in
him to attend, would
anti-Semitism_,
consist of "soft amp-
throughout Austria.
lified" sounds. Instead,
Soon after he began
he was subjected to
considering work on rii3
the loudest music he
The Jewish State ,E2
had ever heard, which
Herzl in 1895 wrote
left him with constant
Guedemann, no doubt
ear trouble (judge, we
because of the latter's 2°
feel your pain!). The
position as chief rab- 2
case is set for this Sep-
bi. Herzl wanted to c%
tember.
discuss with Rabbi k
Guedemann issues in-
• And to Dr. Morton
volving Zionism and F,
Lesser
of Huntington
the Jewish religion, EE
Woods, thank you for
about which Herzl
information about Mol-
knew little.
ly Goldberg and family.
Interestingly, Rab-
Dr. Lesser told Tell Me
bi Guedemann at
Why about Shokus, a
first tried to dissuade
Van Nuys, Calif.-com-
Herzl because he
pany that specializes in
couldn't understand
videos of TV shows from
why Jews would
the 1950s. Along with
want to leave their
Goldbergs,"
"The
native milieu for life in This fancy hat has its roots in 18th century Poland.
Shokus sells copies of pro-
a Jewish state. While
grams featuring Jack Ben-
certainly they would be
ny, Ed Wynn, Milton Berle
The
hat
to
which
you're
A:
with other Jews, this diverse
and Groucho Marx. The
streimel,
feing
is
called
a
group would not have a shared re rr
catalog costs $3 and may be
and it first became popular
culture, he argued.
ordered by calling (800)
Furthermore, Rabbi Guede- among the gentile aristocracy
746-5871.
mann was convinced one in 18th-century Poland. Over
should try to overcome, not run time, Hasidic Jews (though not
from, anti-Semitism. Lubavitch) began to adopt the
Send questions to Tell Me Why,
"Should I go from here, custom on special occasions — The Jewish News, 27676
where the word Jew and Shabbat, holidays and wed- Franklin
Road, Southfield, MI
all who bear that name are dings, for example.
48034, or fax to (248) 354-6069.
It's
rare
these
days
to
see
held up to shame, and leave
All letters must be signed and in-
the field to our enemies in anyone wearing a streimel, clude the writer's address. Ques-
order to form a majority though the tradition does con- tions answered in the column will
in Palestine?" he said in a tinue among a few groups. The feature only the writer's initials
letter to Herzl. "No! A hundred streimels often vary a great and city of residence.
thousand horses will not drag deal in appearance, and some

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