Objects

Photograph of a bride from the Gur family surrounded by festively dressed women. The family originates from Góra Kalwaria (Hebrew: Ger, Yiddish: Gur), one of the most important centres of Hasidism in Poland before the Second World War. Women celebrate separately from men - this rule is immutable in Jewish circles. They are distinguished from other Hasidic families by their dress - members of the most orthodox families adhere strictly to the principle of modesty (a headdress and wig for married women, keeping jewellery to a minimum, clothing in subdued colours and without visible ornamentation, which obligatorily covers the cleavage, skirts reaching to mid-calf instead of trousers, sleeves reaching to the wrists, and covered shoes). The dress of the women in the photograph is decidedly dressier and, although it retains the necessary restraint, it is not very different from the clothes of women outside Hasidic circles, while the bride's dress is in line with Western fashion. Particularly notable is the lack of headgear - the only exception being the older women, who most likely wear wigs. The setting in which the photo was taken is also no different from the interior design at non-Hasidic and non-Jewish weddings.

Another photograph documenting this wedding: MPOLIN-M1551.

MBK, AW