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<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""><font size=3>R. Micha
wrote<br><br>
On Mon, Apr 30, 2012 at 03:52:32PM -0400, Prof. Levine wrote:<br>
> If white is the color of purity, then why do so many Orthodox
men<br>
wear <br>
> black, and why do I see a trend amongst observant women to
favor<br>
wearing <br>
> black over clothing of other colors? YL<br><br>
OTOH, black is the color of tzeni'us (for simple physics reasons --
dark<br>
doesn't catch the eye) and fighting the YhR. Judging from the
Rambam's<br>
invocation WRT teshuvah, there are two sides of the same coin. See<br>
Rambam<br>
Hil' Eidus 12:9.<br><br>
It appears to be a tool for anonymity - the "besokh ami anokhi
yoshaves"<br>
of tzeni'us.<br><br>
MQ 17a:<br>
If someone sees that his yeitzer of overpowering him?
What should he<br>
do? He should wear black, cover himself in black, go
to a place<br>
where<br>
they do not recognize him, and he should do what his
heart desires.<br><br>
The Ritva RH 16b asks how the gemara could possibly let someone sin.
He<br>
quotes "mori", who I think in this instance is the Rashba (the
other<br>
likely candidate if the Ra'ah), who says this is not about a yeitzer
to<br>
do an actual cheit, but one who would do something permissable and
if<br>
recognized, would cause a chilul Hashem.<br>
</blockquote>There is a disagreement regarding whether white is a color
or not and whether black is a color or not. See
<a href="http://tinyurl.com/c9rlkfz" eudora="autourl">
http://tinyurl.com/c9rlkfz</a><br><br>
I do not agree with you that black doesn't catch the eye. On a
bright sunny day black stands out to me whereas white does not. Of
course, on a pitch black night, white stands out. So, It all
depends on the environment. <br><br>
"MQ 17a:<br>
<blockquote type=cite class=cite cite=""> If someone
sees that his yeitzer of overpowering him? What should he<br>
do? He should wear black, cover himself in black, go
to a place<br>
where<br>
they do not recognize him, and he should do what his
heart desires.</blockquote><br>
To me this argues against wearing black, because it is a color that
"indicates" that one is going to do something he should not or
that is not appropriate for him to do.<br><br>
It reminds me the story about Reb Chaim of Brisk who was asked why he
does not wear a gartel. He purportedly replied, "When a
sefer Torah is posul, the gartel is put on the outside!"
<br><br>
At least amongst the Sefardim men wore colored clothing. The
following is from
"</font>
<a href="http://personal.stevens.edu/%7Ellevine/jp/Ezra%20Stiles%20And%20The%20Jews%20Of%20Newport.pdf">
<font size=3 color="#0000FF">Ezra Stiles and the Jews of
Newport</a></font><font size=3>" Glimpses Into American Jewish
History Part 59 <b>The Jewish Press,</b> February 5, 2010,
pages 31 & 80. <br><br>
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>In a diary entry dated April
8, [1773] Dr. Stiles provides us with a fascinating<br>
description of the appearance of Rabbi Karigal. Below is a direct quote
that<br>
preserves his spelling, grammar and syntax.<br><br>
The Rabbi's Dress or Aparrel: Common English Shoes,<br>
black leather, Silver flowered Buckles, White Stockings. His<br>
general Habit was Turkish. A
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>green Silk Vest
</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>or long under<br>
Garment reaching down more than half way the Legs or within 3<br>
Inches of the Ankles, the ends of the Sleeves of this Vest<br>
appeared on the Wrists in a foliage Turn-up of 3 inches, & the<br>
Opening little larger than that the hand might pass freely. A Girdle<br>
or Sash of different Colors red and green girt the Vest around his<br>
Body. It appeared not to be open at the bottom but to come down<br>
like a petticoat; and no Breeches could be discovered. This Vest<br>
Vest of Calico, besides other Jewish Talismans. Upon the vest first<br>
mentioned was a </font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>scarlet
outer Garment </i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>of Cloth,
one side of it<br>
was Blue, the </font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>outside
scarlet</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>; it reached down
about an Inch<br>
lower than the Vest, or near the Ankles. It was open before, no<br>
range of Buttons &c. along the Edge, but like a Scholars Gown in<br>
the Body but plain and without many gatherings at the Neck, the<br>
sleeves strait or narrow and slit open 4 or 5 Inches at the End, and<br>
turned up with a blue silk
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>Quarter
Cuff</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>, higher up than at
the End<br>
of the sleeve of the Vest. When he came into the Synoguge he put<br>
over all, the usual Alb or white
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>Surplice</i></font>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>, which was like that of<br>
other Jews, except that its Edge was striped with
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>Blue
straiks</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>,<br>
and had more Fringe. He had a White Cravat round his Neck. He<br>
had a long black Beard, the upper Lip partly shaven-his Head<br>
shaved all over. On his Head a high Fur [Sable] Cap, exactly like<br>
a Woman's Muff, and about 9 or 10 Inches high, the Aperture<br>
atop was closed with green cloth. He behaved modestly and<br>
reverently<br>
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