Kittel
A kittel (
on holidays, in the synagogue or at home when leading the Passover seder. Kittels are sometimes worn by grooms. It is also customary for Jews to be buried in a kittel.History
In Ashkenazic tradition, married men wear a kittel in the synagogue on Yom Kippur.[2] In less-traditional synagogues, religious Jews - both men and women - wear a kittel.[3] Some wear a kittel when leading the Passover Seder.[4]
In some communities, the
In some communities, a bridegroom wears a kittel on his wedding day.[5]
In some communities, the kittel is known as a sargenes, related to the Old French serge as well as Latin sericum.[6]
Symbolism
As a shroud, the kittel signifies simple attire that assures equality for all in death. Because Jewish law dictates that the dead are buried without anything else in the coffin other than simple linen clothes, a kittel has no pockets.
The wearing of a kittel on the High Holidays is symbolically linked to its use as a burial shroud, and, to the verse "our sins shall be made as white as snow" (
References
- ^ Stoll, Ira (September 26, 2017). "New York Times Blunders Again on Jewish Literacy". Algemeiner Journal.
Actually, a kittel—worn by some Jewish men at their weddings, on Yom Kippur, or when leading a Passover Seder—doesn't have to be made of linen. The website of the Judaica store Eichler's has a choice of 26 in either 100% cotton or a polyester/cotton blend, but none in linen.
- ^ "Ask the Rabbi #207". Ohr Somayach. 1998-09-19. Yiddels and Kittels.
- ^ "What Is A Kittel?". My Jewish Learning. 2010-11-24.
- ISBN 0-87306-864-5.
- ^ "Kittel: Jewish Ceremonial Robe". religionfacts.com.
- ^ Kohler, Kaufmann; Eisenstein, Judah David (1905). "Sargenes (called also Kittel)". In Singer, Isidore; et al. (eds.). The Jewish Encyclopedia. Vol. 11. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. p. 62–63.
- ^ Bart, Simcha. "Why is a kittel worn on Yom Kippur". askmoses.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2009-09-30.