Reply To: levush yehudi

Hi guys! You have made good points and I will therefore clarify my position. First of all this concept is part of the oral tradition handed down from qualified teacher to qualified student throughout the generations. I will not provide a written source because I do not have to, and because there quite possibly is none. A very large portion of torah will not be found in the jewish law books or any other written source. It is found in the hearts and minds of the great Tzadikim and Chachamim of every generation including this one. Those who need a written source for everything thereby proclaim that they are among the groups of jews who have cut themselves off from the true tradition of torah sh’ba’al pe(oral tradition) as mentioned in the original post. With all this being said, I will however attemt to explain this concept based on sources that are more commonly accessible. Here goes: The Pesukim in Yeshaya 63 mention the ‘begadim’ and ‘levushim’ of Hashem. The Pasuk in Daniel 7 mentions the ‘levush’ of Hashem. A malach with a ‘levush’ is also mentioned in Daniel 10. These are obviously not physical garments but are describing a spiritual reality. We find a similar idea regarding the ‘hands’ and ‘feet’ and ‘eyes’ etc. of Hashem mentioned throughout tanach. They are not physical but they are a spiritual reality. Now here is the crucial point. When the spiritual reality is represented in a physical form we get the hands, feet, eyes, etc. that we have and are familiar with. The same applies to the spiritual levushim. When they take on a physical form, they look like the garments that we wear. The accurate description of the spiritual levushim is part of the oral tradition, and therefore the accurate description of the physical representation of those levushim is also part of the oral tradition. Now here is where the special connection between Hashem and His people-us-comes in, as mentioned in the original post. We are called Adam(Yechezkel 34), and no other nation is called Adam. This means, on a simple level, that we can accurately reflect the holy spiritual reality, and no other nation can.(Adam comes from the word Adame meaning ‘I will be similar to’ the spiritual reality). Therefore when our bodies and our garments accurately reflect the spiritual Source, we show Godliness to ourselves and to the world, which is the whole purpose of creation(‘you are my witnesses’ Yeshaya 43, see also Iyov 19 ‘umibsari echeze eloka’). In addition we aquire a real and close connection(dveikus) to Hashem – the spiritual Source – since we are an accurate physical reflection of Him. This is why the way our bodies look(example-circumcision for men) and our hair looks(example-beard and peyos for men) and our garments look(example-long outer garment for men and women) is so important. I hope this has opened your minds and hearts to this beautiful and deep yet practical concept. As for what I personally wear, I wear a long outer garment and a respectable head covering (not a borsalino-I am not italian, not a shtreimel-I do not need a fur hat, and not a small kipa-that is not respectable). As for those at yeshiva CHAFETZ CHAIM who feel the need to remove their beard I suggest you learn the sefer tiferes adam written by the CHAFETZ CHAIM where he discusses the importance of having a beard. (As for the caftan and turban, while unnecessary, it is certainly better than jeans and baseball cap-the preffered levush of many wannabe goyim). I will end with the following quote from Rav Chaim Ozer zt’l (the Posek Hador in pre-war Europe) “The long outer garment is not a chassidishe levush, it is a yiddishe levush(levush yehudi)”. We would be so fortunate if we could attach ourselves to true Tzadikim and Chachamim and thereby become aware of the beauty and depth of the entire torah, both the written and oral tradition. What we were taught and what we were exposed to are not necessarily the objective truth or the will of Hashem. Peace and Blessings to all!