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Hasidism
Hasidic Jew chanting and swaying back and forth with the rhythm of his Hebrew prayers.
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism comes from a Hebrew word that means loving kindness.
During weekdays, Hasidic men wear long dark jackets (known as bekishe) and trousers, white shirts, black hats and black shoes but without neckties. The black clothing is a symbol representing a lack of ego. Covering the head reminds them there is a god above their own limited minds.
The payos (sidecurls) and beard are worn in obedience to a commandment in the Torah:
You shall not round the corners of your heads, nor mar the edges of your beards.
Corners of the head are the areas above the ears. Not rounding them means not shaving the hair there or cutting it very short. Some Hasidic men also cut the rest of the hair very short to make it more comfortable under a hat.
The Western Wall, Jewish Quarter, Old City of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (Thursday 25 November 2010)
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Hasidism
Hasidic Jew chanting and swaying back and forth with the rhythm of his Hebrew prayers.
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism comes from a Hebrew word that means loving kindness.
During weekdays, Hasidic men wear long dark jackets (known as bekishe) and trousers, white shirts, black hats and black shoes but without neckties. The black clothing is a symbol representing a lack of ego. Covering the head reminds them there is a god above their own limited minds.
The payos (sidecurls) and beard are worn in obedience to a commandment in the Torah:
You shall not round the corners of your heads, nor mar the edges of your beards.
Corners of the head are the areas above the ears. Not rounding them means not shaving the hair there or cutting it very short. Some Hasidic men also cut the rest of the hair very short to make it more comfortable under a hat.
The Western Wall, Jewish Quarter, Old City of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel (Thursday 25 November 2010)
More images in Comments section