Dear Matzav Inbox,
There was a time when a shtreimel was a symbol of dignity and inherited mesorah. It sat on a head quietly, without screaming for attention, without demanding applause, without turning its wearer into a walking spectacle. That time, apparently, has passed.
Somewhere along the line, subtlety was declared obsolete, and excess crowned itself king—quite literally.
Shtreimels are getting taller, wider, and more absurd by the year. What once rested respectfully atop a head now looms overhead like an architectural project gone rogue. It is no longer headwear. It is a statement piece. And the statement is deeply embarrassing. It’s a busha. And I say that as the wearer of a shtreimel – a normal one.
Do the wearers realize how clownish they look? Or is that awareness drowned out by the applause of a society that has confused ostentation with chashivus?
Let us stop pretending this is about mesorah. Our grandfathers did not parade around with fur towers balanced precariously above their ears. They did not need height to signal worth. Their dignity came from who they were, not from how much fur they could stack on their skulls. The shtreimel was never meant to compete with skyscrapers.
And yet, here we are, locked in a silent but vicious arms race: taller than his, wider than theirs. A grotesque one-upmanship that masquerades as chassidishe refinement. If the goal is to look ridiculous, mission accomplished. If the goal is to honor mesorah, we have veered wildly off course.
Worse still is the money. The staggering sums being poured into these monstrosities would make even the most hardened fundraiser blush. Thousands of dollars—sometimes more—spent not on chinuch, not on helping struggling families, not on communal needs, but on looking like an overgrown cartoon character. And for what? To stand out in a crowd that should be running in the opposite direction?
We live in a generation crushed by tuition, suffocated by housing costs, strangled by simcha expenses. Families are drowning quietly, cutting corners, juggling debts, pretending everything is fine. And in the middle of this, we normalize the idea that a man must place an ever-expanding fur monument on his head to be taken seriously.
What message does this send to our children? That image matters more than substance? That dignity is measured in inches? That Torah values are best expressed through theatrical excess?
This is not hiddur mitzvah. This is vanity dressed up as piety. This is insecurity wrapped in sable. This is a costume contest that no one had the courage to shut down before it spiraled into parody.
And yes, someone needs to say it plainly: It looks ridiculous. It invites mockery. It cheapens what was once noble. It turns something meaningful into a joke — and we are the punchline.
Yiddishkeit has survived because our zeides and bubbes knew when to hold firm and when to rein things in. Not every escalation is growth. Not every “more” is better. Sometimes, more is just more….and sometimes more is grotesque.
It is long past time to ask ourselves an uncomfortable question: Are we honoring our minhagim or are we inflating them until they collapse under their own weight?
Because if we continue down this path, the only thing that will keep growing faster than the shtreimels themselves is the embarrassment they bring upon us.
And let us be brutally honest about the final, uncomfortable truth: No one looks at these towering shtreimels and thinks “yiras Shamayim.” They think excess. They think insecurity. They think parody. What was once meant to humble a man before the Eibishter now elevates his ego several inches above everyone else in the room. We have taken an article of kedusha and turned it into a grotesque measuring stick of status, where taller means “more,” and “more” means “better.” That is not avodas Hashem. That is theater. And if we do not stop congratulating ourselves for it, we will wake up one day and realize that in our frantic race to look holier, we have succeeded only in making ourselves look foolish—before the world, before our children, and worst of all, before the Ribbono Shel Olam Himself.
Running for Cover
New York
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They have been moving higher, in direction of the Poylisher Spodiks.
Solution – abolish shtreimels, convert them all to Spodiks (Poylishe shtreimels).
Can we please get back to discussing and dissecting the age-gap hoax dreaded shidduch crisis. It’s already been 5 minutes and I haven’t heard anyone mention the older singles situation.
They are close to two times the hight of the typical spodik of today and far, far wider, and still much more expensive.
Abolish shtreimels, follow Lubavitcher Rebbuh and wear fedora instead.
The Rebbes of CHaBa”D wore shtreimals and kolpiks (a type of spodek) until a maaseh she’haya gave rise to a change in the minhag. Similarly, CHaBa”D chasiddim typically wore “lang” (frocks) even during weekdays. That, too, changed due to a similar maaseh she’haya. The wore peyos as well. Another change.
Those are now nearing $400 for a Bar Mitzvah bachur.
A CHUSID THAT COULDNT AGREE MORE BUT ITS IN EVRYTHING SADLY WONT MENNTION THE LACE TOP LONG LITVISH SHAITELS THAT LOOK WORSE THEN A MODELS HAIR
please, ‘litvish’ was unnecessary in your comment
Why can’t people address other problems without someone jumping straight to shaitels
Nice smear on half a Klal Yisroel. I didn’t know that lace top was a “litvish” thing.
It’s a more modern thing that’s very unfortunately found by less frum chasidim and litvaks.
YOU ARE A DISGUSTING FELLOW.
You could have made the same comment without using the word litvish.
ANTISEMITE.
At the barber shop the other day. A sweet, innocent chasiddisheh Yingleh with beautiful blond curly payos was getting his “over-the-top” #1. His chasiddisheh mother with he long sheitle and her to the floor, very stylish, cool, YI or Flatbish skirt, took out her smartphone to get a picture of her sweet boy in the barber’s chair.
I am not bashing long sheitle. I am not bashing smartphones (I am posting from one right now). I am certainly not bashing floor-length skirts. They are a tremendous chessed and a big improvement from the barely to the knee skirts the old school chasiddisheh wear with their green seamed stockings which turn many more heads.
I am bashing the continued use of labels. We all live together now. In Lakewood we have Vishnitz, Satmar, Belz, BMG, Chaim Berlin, Chofetz Chaim, and more all living in very close proximity to one another if not in the same development. Styles will cross over.
Them fitting in better and getting along better does not matir us moving away from ikar halachah. Short skirts, above the elbow sleeves. No hose or socks. Open toe shoes. Low neck lines.
Get along. Build bridges. And GROW!
Your off-the-derech tuna bagel crowd are a lot more pritzusdik than any litvishe family. At least we don’t shave our payos off (diorsisa) like you do. You guys also have no manners in public. You people think you own the world and everything is coming to you. I guess, until you end up in Otisville with your chevra.
For a Shtreimel wearer your English seems to be too good.
I was thinking the same thing…
Dan is a racist
You left out a few points
It looks stupid
It looks disgusting
With the older (nicer) shtriemels the wearer placed it on his head by holding the kappel – easily done. Today it’s acrobatics accomplished by holding the binding underneath the shtreimel (c”v to try to grab the kappel – you may bend some of the “fences” protruding upwards to the sky).
With the streimel you didn’t grab the kapul. That’s only done with the spudik which has a soft kapul. The streimel one holds where the kapul attaches onto the cardboard loke substance, which is hard.
You are actually incorrect.
This is probably the best written article on this subject. Sad to say it’s spreading to the box style, bekeshe style and for some socks and shoes. You are 100 % correct there are some chasanim that look like clowns. Don’t they at least look into a mirror before they buy or they’re to frum for that. there was one father who got a new shtrimal he has white hair so the mishiguna shtrimal seller put in white highlights The guy looked like it’s Purim. The yungerman whose shpitzin were so high they shook when he shukled And to look like a clown and foolish you have to pay double or triple then for a normal looking shtrimal.
They don’t make the small streimel anymore. The choson doesn’t have a choice. It’s either oversized or super oversized.
There absolute is a choice. Entire chasidisim buy shorter and WITHOUT a KROIN. Supply and demand. It’s not as if they grow naturally this way. They are manufactured. Brim sizes changes. Tie width changes. Bring back the real shtreimals. And get rid of the bekeshes with the LED lights.
well daid
I’m all reality let’s face it The people doing this are the ones supporting the mosdos
They have no sipuk in learning or davening and the only way they feel good about being hasidic is standing out and showing how chasidish they are
Isnt that the entire point of chasidus to let unlearned people have expression in judaism ?
stop while you are ahead
They are also the ones FAHRTUGS learning.
This issue can literally be solved with the stroke of a pen. If the Rebbes of Satmer Vizhnitz Belz and Skver (all brothers in law btw) all signed onto a takana as has already been done in Toldos Avrohom Yitzchak (obviously the Rebbes themselves would need to comply) it would very much diminish if not completely eradicate the issue. I think most of the Chassidim would be more than happy with such a takana.
if your rav/ rebbe said something which you dont agree with, woud YOU listen? Why should Rebbes say something if ppl wont listen, especially since there is no solid halachic or hashkafic reason behind it, rather it’s just a branch of the malady of. Money we are all affected by.
Rabbi’s are not the pawns of the baalebatim.
What about bobov, skulen, spink munkatch and the rest? DOn’t they also have to be involved?
What’s the takana?
The letter writer presented his argument in an amazing articulate manner. Spot on! Hit the nail on the head. And I’m also a shtreimel wearer. In fact, I had a hard time convincing the Shtreimel macher when I last ordered one to keep it low and without the spikes, he was not eager to accommodate! I also said that my beard is white; my Shtreimel doesn’t need white hair and again he was apprehensive! These Shtreimels look weird. The comment above about the lace-cap sheitels down even below the waistline is also a boosha, no less. But still, with all our flaws, us Yidin are a great nation: the best
Well said,
REBBES SHOULD order everyone to wear a ten dollar Purim streimel
And women can wear a twenty dollar teachil or snood and stop bankrupting their families. Things are getting out of control.
Your ideas seem to make sense, but they don’t jive with the world out there. I think this has all just gone to your head.
100 % True ! Same for everything else, how about fancy brand name Clothing ? Crazy Bar Mitzvos , Vacht Nacht ? Weddings ? The list doesn’t end !
Last but not least :The Expensive sheitlach ? 2 to 5K a peice (Looks even better then original Hair, not to mention the severe Michsholos in brings…)
Why pick Only On Shtriemlech ?
You forgot to mention the gartels. The wider and fancier the better. The whole point of a gartel got lost somewhere.
Why do we get an opinion each weak that bashes everyone and everything. We do not need a ‘Kitrug’ in ‘Shamayim’. You cAn bring up issues and problems but not in the frequency that you do and not with the anger that you do! Please lower the temperature a bit. Things need to be said and addressed but you may need to take some medicine to lower youR blood pressure a bit before you bash the whole world!
THINK BEFORE YOU WRITE!
They don’t even look good. Back in the 90’s they looked perfect, no?
i used to say the same about the black hats when the brims started getting wider and wider. They began to look ridiculous! I called them cowboy hats. Luckily, someone up there in the fashion world thought it was time to change the style and the brims got smaller. Much more normal! IY”H by the shtreimels, which, as this article says, are starting to look as ridiculous as those cowboy hats used to look.
What’s wrong with those wide brims? They are much more yeshivish then the tiny ones.
Wow. Haters are gonna hate. Many many Chassidim give a chomesh or more. They don’t gamble or do drugs. Fargin them a little. Sheesh
Does the writer of this letter wear a shtreimal? I don’t and therefore don’t feel I’m in the position to weigh in with my unsolicited opinion or criticize how other people are dressing unless they are wearing something in an effort to be offensive. In fact I’m concerned that doing so is onas devorim.
This letter could and should be written in a less confrontational tone.
The writer is highlighting a single detail, mostly because the styles have led the way to bigger towering headgear. The real problem is not the shtreimel. The writer alludes to the crux of the problem. The mistaking of piety for vanity. In reality, HKB”H is asking for our hearts, רחמנא ליבא בעי. Our choice of levush is a distant second. Yes, there are traditions, and there are norms. But when we view these externals as indicative of Yiras Shomayim, we are settling into foolishness that should make any member of Amalek thrilled. Just as we have devolved into making levush into more of a goal, we are suckers for lots of other follies. Kashrus is truly important. But when we deteriorate into hechsher wars, chumros, and segulos, we are deluding ourselves into false Yiddishkeit. Chassidishe and Litvishe communities have made different issues into the ones heralded as kedusha. Trouble is, none of this is real. And as lambs to the slaughter, we all fall victim to this.
Not just shtreimels. We have met the problem, and they is us.
this article can be written on any physical manifestation of Yiddishkeit, shuls, weddings, Jewish food, sheitels, jewelry, clothing, silver ornaments, all bought in the name of Yiddishkeit. Just replace the word “shtreiemel” for any of the above and you willl have a great article.
why pick on shtreimels?
Why pick on Shtreimel?
Here’s AI’s definition of Shtreimel
“A shtreimel is a large, circular fur hat worn by married Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jewish men, especially Hasidic Jews, on Shabbat, holidays, and other special occasions, serving as a symbol of tradition and religious identity”
And THAT is the problem here. Shtreimel should be a symbol of tradition and religious identity, NOT A FASHION STATEMENT !!!!!!!!
The “clown show” issue doesn’t bother me. I’m not a shtreimel wearer and to me, all shtreimels are a clown show. But, I understand that mesorah is mesorah, regardless of the look. But as mentioned, the shtreimel was a symbol of erlichkeit and yiras shamayim, not a fashion statement
Quite disappointed with this article.
It does not at all bring down any sources for why we wear a shtreimel aside for a random “mesorah”, which the author claims is mesorah to dump the most ragged animal tail you can find on your head.
Please quote sources for the reason of wearing a shtreimel and what it represents. Maybe then the readers will understand why that is something chassidim choose to beautify themselves with.
Maybe it’s the streimel makers and sheitels machers pushing prices up. Everything is going up as well from groceries to clothing. I remember in Boro park a slice of pizza was ten cents then went up to a quarter for a long time. The deal about hats and streimels is this. The Rambam writes that in the next world Tzaddikim will be sitting around with crowns on their heads. Imagine all streimel people sitting with giant streimels but they never spent much time davening or learning. It would look embarrassing. Maybe that’s why the big streimels are here to make people realize that if you are wearing a big streimels but then at least do Chumash rashi and marba sedra each week. Don’t talk during davening . The streimel should remind you of the crown you will be wearing in oilem Habah.
The crown of course is not physical but made up of the Torah and mitzvohs you did down here.
I always wondered, how those big heavy streimels don’t fall off their head when they bow down for modim.
Just a few short years ago – maybe 25 years ago I remember the few people who wore streimels wore similar to what we know was worn in Europe. The strimel was around 2.5 inches high, thin, flimzy, and rounded – very similar to the STELLA DORA COOKIE. Many people today call the stella Dora cookie, the “Strimel cookie.” Nothing at all resembling what is worn today. There is NO mesorah on it! Look at photos from Europe.
If there is a Rebbeh out there with a sizeable chassiddus interested in acting like a leader on this matter, and will changes things, will see that most chassiduses will follow suit with time.
There is one Rebbe who has the guts to stand up for whats right and that’s the Bobover Rebbe Shlita take a look at his Shtreimel.
SHTEIMLICH IS ONE THING. BUT WHAT ABOUT ALL THE WASTE OF TIME, MONEY ETC. THAT HAPPENS DURING SIMCHAS RELATED TO WEDDINGS. ALL THOSE SHEVA BRUCHIS THAT INVOLVES CALLING GUEST WHO SIT HOURS AND HOURS NIGHT AFTER NIGHT. HOW MUCH MONEY GETS SPENT. HOW MANY HOURS GET WASTED. ETC.ETC. EVERYBODY THINKS IT MAKES NO SENSE AND IT JUST KEEPS ON HAPPENING. ONLY MANHIGIM CAN MAKE CHANGES. FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON THEY JUST DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THAT IS THE PROBLEM
A heavy dose of Whataboutism?
I’m proud of my 8.5”
I have been saying this for years. It looks ridiculous and clownish. Problem is the Rabbe’s have gone along. They regulate the type of eyeglasses you wear and the hair coverings of women and then allow these grotesque hats. Soon they will have highlights! (Some do already with stripes of different color fur!). This is plain UGLY!
I remember the flat , maybe 5 inch, shtreimlichs of my youth. And only Rebbes or derhoibener Yidden wore them. Same with white and black socks and half shoes. Now every Tom, Dick and Harry wears them. Yuck….
This is true of a lot of items that were originally meant to be an accessory for kedusha and ended up becoming a status symbol. Leather and fur tallis/tefillin bags, anyone?
Start a new trend – (smaller) retro-shtreimels. All Rebbes should switch to them.
Start calling them shtreim instead of shtreimel.
The el at the end of shtreim-el is a diminutive suffix, meaning little shtreim. But if they are large now…
we need a kol korei
It’s all a distraction from the main issue that the Litvish world faces, a far bigger crisis, and that is that the boys are getting married so late when they should be getting married at least before 20 causing a major shiduch crisis for the’re sisters.
Ok, so you showed that the Litvish world is also imperfect. But you contributed nothing to this discussion. Your comment is just a distraction from the main topic at hand.
If they would only realize how stupid they look in that tall shtriemel with the fur sticking up so high. If they would only realize, they would put an end to this. I just said this the other day to a friend. To me it is nauseating. No reason for this. Want to wear a shtreimel? Be my guest, but look normal; not like a katchke sticking out its neck.
Wow. As a previous responder wrote, your mastery of the pen betrays your assertion that you are a streimel wearer.
Agree to all your points. Hopefully the pendulum swings the other way, as is sometimes the case with these things.
Let’s forget about all the life-and-death problems Jews now face and zero in on fashion.
Wow! What a racist comment. Ever hear Rabbi Dovid Gottlieb speak? Ever her the Novominsker Rebbe ztzvk”l speak? And many more. Both fur hat wearers. Both very articulate.
Exceptions that prove the rule?
“when a shtreimel was a symbol of dignity and inherited mesorah. It sat on a head quietly, without screaming for”
When exactly was THAT?
The present is just a next-step continuation to the process.Eitger it was wrong to have started or once it started,every generation will naturally push the envelope further
Who you’re kidding
My question about Shtreimlach has always been this one. Why in the world would anyone wear a fur hat in 80-90 degree weather? What exactly is the point?
Chasidim depict Moshe Rabbeinu bearing a shtreimel. What did that one look like?
Why all the bashing of chassidim? Why tar everyone with the same brush? What about the equally ridiculous “clown hats” with the super tiny brim? Or the ultra skinny ties? Or, worse, the ultra skinny pants that need to be peeled off like Saran Wrap? Oh, and btw, there are many chassidim out there with a marvelous command of the English language!
If a streimel was the way it was a few years ago ok. But this new Mishagas of streimels growing in crazy sizes is outrageous. They are getting bigger and wider. Who started this trend. And all the rebbes followed. Now beketches are getting wide gartels and young guys are polishing things up with fancy cuffs on the sleeves. It’s a culture of materialism. Many of the guys who wear streimels would not mind if it was done away with. They feel odd. But because everyone wears it they go along. Today you can be a mechalel shabbos and wear a streimel its culture. Like the Jews who spoke yiddish in 1920s in America but did not observe shabbos. It was culture. Just as the Zionist speak Hebrew but violate Shabbos.Its culture. I spoke to a guy who did not believe in G-d. I asked him are you Jewish. He said of course I wear a streimel.
So one shtreimel says to the other: “You wait here. I will go on ahead…”
There’s a famous story with R’ Mike Tress. He was once speaking with the Satmar Rebbe, and one of the chassidim asked the Rebbe how he could give such kovod to a man who didn’t even have a beard. The Rebbe answered that when R’ Mike Tress goes up to Shamayim after 120, they’ll ask him, in Yiddish, “Yid — vu iz dein bord?” But when you go up after 120, they’ll ask, “Bord — vu iz dein Yid?”
The chassidim learned from this story and became afraid that when they go up to Shamayim after 120, they’re going to be asked, “Yid — vu iz dein shtreimel?” So they figured they need to make it as noticeable as possible, just to be safe.
The problem is, they don’t realize that at this point, when the shtreimel goes up to Shamayim after 120, it’s going to get asked: “Shtreimel — vu iz dein Yid?”
Ha ha. Zeyr gut gezuckt.
This whole article and comments was entertaining. I began to understand why streimels are getting higher and more expensive. There are many young chassidim who don’t feel like worthy of wearing a streimel. But if it can be a fashion statement than they go for it. It becomes a discussion. Did you see my new streimel. It’s a few inches taller or now the more expensive ones have GOLD hairs instead of just white hairs. The most expensive streimel I heard was going for twenty thousand dollars. But don’t worry the sheitels are catching up in price. But so is everything else. I was wondering why rebbes go along. Maybe they want to influence the weaker young chassidim. If only the materialistic svacher young chassidim would wear these tall ones they would feel as outcasts among mainstream chassidim. So everyone puts on bigger and taller streimels to include all of klal yisroel. Each generation has its challenges and must be handled differently. Today most yeshivas dont beat you to a pulp as years ago. Things change. I think it’s a clever move to get the young chassidim focused on sizes and prices of the streimel so it keeps them in the system.