Since biblical times, Jews have usually dressed as part of the larger societies in which they have lived.  But they have also dressed and accessorized themselves in distinct ways for various reasons: to be distinguished from the larger society, to distinguish the roles of men and women, to express devotion, to follow liturgical practice, to visually express various Jewish sects’ or communities’ practice or to follow dress codes imposed on them by the larger society.  This course will widen your understanding of Jewish dress, in the past, in the present and around the world. 

 

Phillip Silver is a Canadian designer of scenery, costume, and lighting for opera, theatre, and dance, with close to 300 productions to his credit. His work has been seen across Canada, in the U.S., and in the West End. He taught stage design at York University in Toronto and served there as Dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts. In 2008, he was honored with induction to the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts.  He has previously taught LLP courses on opera, on stage design, on the history of clothing and on Jewish fashion designers.