A Cultural History of Jewish Dress

Name: A Cultural History of Jewish Dress
Brand: Bloomsbury 3PL
Availability: OutOfStock
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

By Eric Silverman

0 - Default Title

Description

A Cultural History of Jewish Dress is the first comprehensive account of how Jews have been distinguished by their appearance from Ancient Israel to the present. For centuries Jews have dressed in distinctive ways to communicate their devotion to God, their religious identity, and the proper earthly roles of men and women. This lively work explores the rich history of Jewish dress, examining how Jews and non-Jews alike debated and legislated Jewish attire in different places, as well as outlining the big debates on dress within the Jewish community today. Focusing on tensions over gender, ethnic identity and assimilation, each chapter discusses the meaning and symbolism of a specific era or type of Jewish dress. What were biblical and rabbinic fashions? Why was clothing so important to immigrant Jews in America? Why do Hassidic Jews wear black? When did yarmulkes become bar mitzvah souvenirs? The book also offers the first analysis of how young Jewish adults today announce on caps, shirts, and even undergarments their striving to transform Jewishness from a religious and historical heritage into an ethnic identity that is hip, racy, and irreverent. Fascinating and accessibly written, A Cultural History of Jewish Dress will appeal to anybody interested in the central role of clothing in defining Jewish identity.

Product details

Edition:: illustrated
Number of Pages:: 288
Release Date:: 2013-01-03
Publication Date:: 2013-01-03
Publisher:: Bloomsbury 3PL
Languages:: Original: English
ISBN10:: 1845205138
ISBN13:: 9781845205133
GPSR Manufacturer Reference:: [email protected]
Weight:: 741 g
Height:: 183 cm
Width:: 260 cm
Thickness:: 20 cm

Buy on Amazon

Currently sold out