Objects

Photograph of a Gur bride surrounded by festively dressed women (another photograph depicting this wedding: MPOLIN-M1551). 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, a principle that has remained unchanged in Jewish circles; what sets them apart from other Hasidic families is their attire – 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 more festive and, although it retains the necessary restraint, it is not very different from the clothes of women outside of Hasidic circles, and 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 photograph was taken is also not dissimilar to the interior design at non-Hasidic and non-Jewish weddings.

MBK, AW