Jewish Tartan

[gilmore]

I don't see a need for religious-based tartans. Despite having an established church (The Church of Scotland) Scotland is a secular nation with a thriving multi-cultural, and multi-faith, secular population. Tartans based on family, or location (district tartans), show the wearer to be an integrated part of that community, even if their ancestral roots come from some other place.

Religion-based tartans would seem to be divisive, rather than inclusive, as they imply that their use should be restricted only to persons of that faith.

That there isn't a Presbyterian tartan, or a Catholic tartan, or an Episcopalian or Hindu tartan, speaks volumes for the cultural attitude which subscribes to the belief that a person's religion is a private matter between himself and God. ....

Actually, there is an Episcopalian tartan---two, in fact, I believe. There are also at least two Buddhist ones, as well tartans of several other denominations.

But that is beside the point. Being Jewish is these days in Britain and the US could be better described as an ethnic identity than a religious one.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

For all of you who got hot under the collar because of my previous post on this thread, please go back and read it again . Nowhere did I refer to "Jewish" tartan-- my remarks are general in their nature. My position is that the concept of tartans based on religion, any religion, may do more to exclude individuals or groups from some sections of our cultural society than to integrate them into it. Anyone reading my remarks is, of course, free to hold a contrary view-- just respond to what I've said, not what you think I've said.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Just a brief note about "relgious tartans" as this thread has expanded in that direction: One thing in favor of MacM of R's position is that tartan has never been a "religious thing" in Scotland. It's always been about clan, family, regiment, or place, with few exceptions. Despite Catholics and Protestants (largely Presbyterian and Episcopal) living in the Highlands together for the past 450 years, there has never been an attempt to define those groups with a tartan. So one could argue that it is not really a part of "tartan culture".

Then again, that tartan culture is expanding. The clergy tartan was once the only occupational tartan. Now there are tartans for medics, firefighters, police, etc. There are tartans for schools, businesses, events, and special interests that would have shocked our ancestors. So one could argue that "religous tartans" are part of this expanding momentum. Whether or not it is a good idea is something folks can have different opinions on.

But for the record, tartans for religions are not as common as some in the thread have suggested. For example, there is no "Episcopal" tartan -- there is an Episcopal Clergy tatan, which like the original clergy tartan is an occupational tartan. It is intended for clergy to wear, not all Episcopalians.

The Buddhist tartans mentioned are, I believe, actually designed for a particlar monestary and not intended to be general pan-Buddhist tartans, representing all Buddhists everywhere. Likewise there are tartans designed for particular Presbyterian churches, but no general Presbyterian tartan. Same with Baptists. There is a "Baptist Union of Scotland" tartan, but no "Baptist" tartan.

The lone exception is the Methodist tartan. My understanding is that the intent is for this to be a general tartan for all Methodists, but I really don't know too much about the origin of this tartan.

Regardless, with the Jewish people, we have not only a faith identity, but an ethnic one. And in that since we can see why an ethnic group that has migrated to Scotland and has shared in the culture might want to recognize that with a tartan. There is a tartan for Italian-Scots, so why not Jewish-Scots?

[Dukeof Kircaldy]

But that is beside the point. Being Jewish is these days in Britain and the US could be better described as an ethnic identity than a religious one.

Hunh? My usual response when I am asked if I am Jewish is "No, I'm Scottish, but the jokes are pretty much the same."

The better part is that this is usually to little old ladies at the nearby temple looking for more people to make a minyan.

[Monkey@Arms]

Another article about the tartan and its creator. From the New York Jewish Week:

Kosher Kilt
by Randi Sherman


Rabbi Mendel Jacobs, the only Scottish-born rabbi currently living in Scotland, wanted to display with pride his Scottish-Jewish identity, much like other Scotsmen do, with tartan. The leader of Glasgow’s Shul in the Park, a Lubavitch congregation, Rabbi Jacobs felt the estimated 7,000 Scottish Jews deserved a tartan of their own, and set out to make that a reality.

“I travel around visiting Jews in the Highlands, in Northern Scotland,” Rabbi Jacobs said, and many have been asking for it.

The history of tartan, what we in America call plaid, dates back more than 3,000 years to the Celts who inhabited Britain and France before the Roman Empire. Adorning kilts and other time-honored Scottish accoutrements, the tartan reflected at first the district the wearer inhabited
and later became associated with specific clans and families.

By the time King Charles III banned tartan and traditional Highland clothes in 1747, Jews had been a fixture in cities like Edinburgh and Glasgow for more than 50 years, the first group having arrived from Poland in 1691. The ban was lifted in 1787, but the Jews of Scotland remained in the country without their own claim to the Scottish tradition — until now.

Rabbi Jacobs contacted the Scottish Tartans Authority, an organization that has archived more than 3,500 known tartans, and enlisted its help in creating a tartan especially for the country’s Jews, in time to honor Israel at 60.

After consulting with the authority about significant numbers and colors, eight possible designs were narrowed down to the final tartan pattern. The main colors are blue and white, for both the Israeli and Scottish flags. Stripes of gold represent the Ark of the Covenant, while silver stripes reflect decorations for the Torah scroll and deep red stripes recall kiddush wine. The striping sequence runs in threes and sevens, three for the three fathers of Judaism and the three rabbis of a bet din, and seven for the idea of wholeness, Rabbi Jacobs said.

Interest in the Jewish tartan has been tremendous, said Rabbi Jacobs. “Not just expats, but people in Peru, South Africa, Australia,” and even Jews without Scottish heritage. He sells Jewish tartan garb at — where else — jewishtartan.com, everything from yarmulkes and custom-made kilts to curtains, mugs and mouse pads.

And to answer any halachic inquiries, yes, the kilts are kosher; they don’t violate the prohibition of men wearing clothing made for women, and unlike traditional tartans which are made of a linen-wool blend, this one is all wool to avoid violating the law of shatnez.

“It’s a great opportunity to express Judaism through Scottish heritage,” he said, and a great way to help support Scotland’s Jewish community. A portion of the proceeds goes to Chabad and other Jewish social service organizations.

Best regards,

Jake

[gilmore]

<<<By the time King Charles III banned tartan and traditional Highland clothes in 1747, ...>>>

Hmm...

[gilmore]

I have heard it said that wherever there are two Jews, there are at least three opinions. Evidently the tradition continues.

In addition to the tartan mentioned above, there is a second contender.
The "Jewish Telegraph," the UK's Jewish media outlet, ran a poll of three possibilities, and its readers selected this one shown here: http://www.jewishtelegraph.com/gla_news.html

The Telegraph's website claims that it is the first ever official Jewish tartan. It is available through www.kosherkilts.com, and the Slanj kiltmakers:

" 'It’s a great celebration of two communities. It gives Scots the opportunity to celebrate their Jewishness and for Jews to celebrate their Scottishness with their compatriots,' Scottish Rabbi: YY Rubinstein

The idea to create a tartan for Scottish Jews grew from a chance meeting between the editor of the Jewish Telegraph and a Scot Clive Schmulian in early 2008. The colour of the tartan combines the blue and whites of the Scottish Soltaire and the Israeli Star of David. Our tartan was chosen from three designs in an online poll run by the Jewish Telegraph. Over 10,000 votes were cast and the winning design announced at the end of May 2008. To view the winning design click here.

The tartan is not owned by any one individual and is registered in the name of the Scottish Jewish Community. Our aim is for the tartan to be worn by Scottish Jews, ex-pat Scottish Jews, members of Jewish organisations, individuals of any religion with links to the Jewish / Israeli communities. The design is so stylish that we know you will want to wear your tartan with pride.

With such a massive endorsement and the support of so many people, this is the tartan of the Scottish Jewish Community. The tartan is a beautifully subtle pattern that we can be proud to wear and say is our own.

All profits from the sale of products on www.kosherkilts.com will be donated to two charities: Jewish Care Scotland and KKL (Scotland).

Style

The last decade has seen a renaissance of interest in tartan products. More and more Scots are wearing kilts again - no longer just worn on formal occasions, but increasingly as a cool Scottish fashion statement.

Leading kilt designer, Slanj, is the official supplier of the tartan of the Scottish Jewish Community. Slanj have shops in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen. If you wish to have a kilts or trews made please contact Slanj directly. From its conception, Brian Halley of Slanj has been working on the Scottish Jewish Community Tartan and will be delighted to help advise anyone wishing to buy a kilt.

Slanj can supply a whole range of kilt accessories, so whatever the occasions you’ll look great wearing your tartan. Slanj have also designed a stunning kilt pin / broach made of pewter in the shape of the Star of David.

If your not ready to buy a kilt, but still wish to support your tartan, at kosherkilts.com you can buy a range of products made in the tartan. Please visit our webshop and remember that all profits from web purchases are being donated to charity.

Anyone wishing further information of advice about the tartan can contact either Brian Halley at Slanj or Clive Schmulian of kosherkilts.com."


Additionally, there is a third contender, the Gordon tartan, as discussed at length here: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/j....html?t=32507& as well as here: http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/j...ghlight=jewish

If I had to choose, I would pick the Gordon tartan for its longstanding association with Jewish Scots (or Scots Jews)---as shown in the above threads, there is photographic evidence of its use by Jews as early as the early 20th Century--- and for its authenticity as the Jewish tartan in that it was popularly taken up by Scots Jews unfettered by the commercialism of tartan merchants and others. Also, it is to me more symbolic of how the Jewish people and culture have throughout their history accomodated themselves to other, dominant cultures in which they found themselves by appropriating artifacts of the dominant culture. E.g., there are very, very few Jewish surnames, that is, ones that arose out of the Jewish community itself. The ones that are usually thought of as Jewish were used by Jews in German- and Slavic- language cultures starting only in recent centuries, as was "Gordon."

However, the "Jewish Telegraph"/kosherkilts.com/Slanj tartan is aesthetically appealing to me with its simpler design of blues and white. I also like it that it is not owned by anyone, and that all profits are donated to charities.

The tartan promoted (and it seems to be the most aggressively put forward of the three) by Rabbi Jacobs and jewishtartan.com is a bit too busy for my taste.

[michaelbeeman]

I really like the Jewish Telegraph one. I'm putting a kilt in that tartan on my wish list to honor my friend Bill S., and my other Jewish friends as well. The first tartan on my list I don't have a personal connection to.

[CelticRanger66]

Well I all am going to say is Beautiful Tartan and I want it!!!

[12stones]

I like them both, the Jewish Tartan and the Telegraph, though I prefer the Telegraph. My girlfriend, who's Jewish (I'm not), however, says that even the kilt won't help her parents to like me. *sigh* Ay gevalt.