Brooklyn, NY – Art Book Sheds Light on Different Types of Chasidic Garb

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    In this July 22, 2013, Brooklyn artist Michael Levin at 1oh9 Gallery In Williamsburg, holding up in his hands 'Jews of Today', a book he penned exploring the nuances and contradictions of Hasidic ritual dress through a series of elegant drawings and explanations. (Photo: Stefano Giovannini/VINnews.com)Brooklyn, NY – A newly released book by a Brooklyn artist attempts to explore the nuances and subtleties of an unusual topic: the clothing worn by chasidic men.

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    Jews of Today, an 83 page book containing 45 illustrations and explanations penned by 28 year old Williamsburg artist Michael Levin, is a project that was several years in the making, and attempts to demystify both a mode of dress and a culture that appears foreign to the outsider.

    Levin, the son of a Jewish father and an Italian mother who converted to Judaism before his birth, was raised in California and lived in South Chicago for four years before moving to Brooklyn.

    “I grew up in Los Angeles, so apart from a few Lubavitchers, I had never really seen or come in contact with the kind of Jewish culture that exists in Williamsburg,” Levin, who was bowled over by the sartorial customs of his new neighbors, told VIN News.

    “I’d simply never seen anything like it,” explained Levin. “What’s more, what I had seen of the chasidic culture was only in old pictures and some scenes from movies and TV shows. I had no idea of the magnitude and the reality of a chasid as a living breathing entity.”

    Levin’s first interaction with a member of Williamsburg’s chasidic community came when he spoke with a chasidic landlord about renting an apartment and found himself mesmerized by the age old attire that he saw all around him.
    One of the Drawings on display in the Gallery and in 'Jews of Today' illustrates the dress codes of the Satmar Rebbes, the two brothers Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum,(R) and Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum (L). (Photo: Stefano Giovannini/VINnews.com)
    “I started making a lot of artwork just relishing in the haunting beauty of the clothes,” recalled Levin. “The most fascinating element of the dress is its endless variety, a world of difference so slight as to go unnoticed by almost everyone outside of the community and often by some within it.”

    Levin says he spent over four years researching his book and another year doing the actual writing and illustrating. Levin admits that he knew nothing about Orthodox Judaism or the chasidic culture before relocating to New York.

    “There are already so many books on other aspects of the culture but, arguably, apart from the Israel Museum catalog from last year’s show, there is no book, at least not in English, that covers the clothing in any depth,” said Levin. “The clothing is the first sense any outsider gets about what it means to be chasidish and even in some sense what it means to be a Jew. I wanted this book to be a way for outsiders to get a glimpse of this world, how many layers of meaning it has.”

    On his website, Levin describes Jews of Today as “the world’s only illustrated primer on hasidic dress.” Among the illustrations in the book are a guide to the types of hats worn by different chasidic sects, chasidim rejoicing as they sing Lecha Dodi and a chasid attempting to speak with a Rebbe.

    Not surprisingly, Levin did not find his subjects to be particularly approachable.

    “I can understand why on a personal level,” said Levin. “I always think about how the chasidim must feel being constantly gawked at on the street and on the subway.”

    Jews of Today was officially launched this past Saturday night at the 109 Gallery, located in the shadows of the Williamsburg Bridge, with an exhibit that also featured similarly styled drawings and paintings by Levin.

    Ryan Krause, co-founder of the 109 Gallery, reported that approximately 60 copies of the book were sold at the at the event which he estimated attracted a crowd of over 150 people and was originally scheduled to run from 7 to 10 PM.

    “We made a point of staying open later to accommodate the religious community and we stayed open until about midnight,” said Krause.

    The Jews of Today are on exhibit from July 21-31 at the 109 Gallery, located at 7 Dunham in Williamsburg and is open weekends from 3 to 6 PM and by appointment.

    Online:
    http://mikelev.com/work/

    Below photos a sample from the display in the gallery, and pages from the book.

    Jews of Today art shof by Michael Levin. 10h9 gallery 7 Dunham place Williamsburg Brooklyn NY.

    Jews of Today art shof by Michael Levin. 10h9 gallery 7 Dunham place Williamsburg Brooklyn NY.


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    24 Comments
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    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    10 years ago

    My first thought is I would like to buy this book. I know nothing of the subject and would like to learn. Besides it would be amusing to bring into Saudi Arabia. Then I saw the text is in either Yiddish or Hebrew.

    Well, I guess will not be buying it after all.

    10 years ago

    Wow i didn’t know i will get an answer so fast. I was on the subway on July 10 saw a guy with a pack of print outs of chassidic B/W art he was reading the book “A life force” was scratching my head what he is doing with does pictures now I know, that’s him in the picture.

    10 years ago

    Um, if you don’t think there are chasidim in LA besides Chabad, you are mistaken…. We have a chassideshe Kollel, chassideshe schools where Yiddish is the language f choice (4+ schools, elementary and high school for each: boys and girls), chassideshe Shuls…
    That’s all besides the Chabad schools, the MO type schools, the Bais Yaakov type schools (only one named BY but there are others- they each have a different name), and so many more! There are so many options here- it’s no wonder we are THE biggest frum community (and biggest Jewish one) outside the NY area. New schools open all the time and we always need more!!! I can’t even begin to count the number of schools we have here… And we have the biggest single elementary school outside the NY area.
    If you want to live in a warm, friendly place where you know your neighbors and when you walk into a shul people introduce themselves after davening is over- visit LA! Beautiful weather, impressive choices of schools and yeshivos and Shuls, friendly people, a yard to play in, all the amenities of NY but nicer living…. Try us out!

    MarkTwain2
    MarkTwain2
    10 years ago

    Needed next: Grammar Book to Shed Light on Different Types of Chasidic Garble

    Nedivah
    Nedivah
    10 years ago

    I would love to have this book. My husband was often gawked at on the streets of Manhattan. Once a tourist jumped in his face to take a picture of his Shabbat attire. Another time someone calls to his friend ” Look at that guy walking around in his bathrobe”. Even here in Israel, I am often asked to explain the nuance of which side the button on the beaver hat is sitting, the shape of hat, shape of shtreimel, the way the unit buttons etc

    OyGevald
    OyGevald
    10 years ago

    Are there Kugel recipes on the back sides of each Chasidus?
    Now that would be interesting!
    🙂

    festayid
    festayid
    10 years ago

    all chasidish levush is based on what the goyish polish nobleman wore 300 yrs ago not sure why there so into their rabbeini tamms when its based on goyish dress

    CHANA1
    CHANA1
    10 years ago

    PRICEY! the book is $40 plus shipping

    PchaFresser
    PchaFresser
    10 years ago

    Why do the chasideshe boys in the sketches looks so spazzed?

    I guess this guy is a really accurate artist

    TexasJew
    TexasJew
    10 years ago

    Why is the Satmar guy soooooo FAT?

    I_Am_Me
    I_Am_Me
    10 years ago

    I wonder what AlterG has to say about this lol

    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    10 years ago

    Well, it is not on Amazon yet. If I get a chance, I will pick it up.

    zaidyt
    zaidyt
    10 years ago

    Many more nuances that he is NOT even aware of. To us every detail has a lot of symbolism and you can detect many subtle messages from the various hints.

    angelinoyid007
    angelinoyid007
    10 years ago

    I grew up in LA. Lived here all my life and I am 30 years old. I went to the chasideshe cheder only speaking Yiddish. There were always chasidim here. He obviously never spent 1 minute on La Brea Ave. Which is one of the main thoroughfares of Los Angeles

    bigwheeel
    bigwheeel
    10 years ago

    On the fourth picture/illustration from the top down. I spotted a glaring mistake. The author is attempting to illustrate the attire of “Skvira” chassidim. While correctly showing the boots that Skvira Chassidiam tend to wear , the head attire being shown is completely wrong. The frisby-type hats are worn mainly by Satmar Chassidim, and some other groups. But never by Skvira followers.

    10 years ago

    What he should do is give you a good price on a Streimel.

    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    10 years ago

    Yes, I was wrong, and now I know it is in English. But it is not yet on Amazon.

    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    10 years ago

    I want to know where people buy these clothes. Some of them are so unique that they must be hand-made. Others (such as the large fur hats) are … Well, I have no idea where one buys them.