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Rebbes and Chassidim wearing Bekishes at a wedding. Note the velvet piping on the Garments worn by the Rebbes, distinguishing them as Rebbes

A bekishe is a long coat, traditionly made of black silk and in modern times made of polyester to worn by Hasidic Jews. Most Hasidim only wear them on Shabbos, Jewish holidays, or at weddings and other such events. During the week, most Hasidim wear a rekel, which is made of wool or polyester, looking like a regular double-breasted suit, only longer. Many Hassidic rabbis wear a bekishe during the week. In such a case, they will wear a fancier bekishe for Shabbos, often lined with velvet or some color other than or in addition to black.

There are two main types of Bekishe. The Zaiden (silk) Glatt (plain, lit. smooth) Bekishe is solid colored, and is usually worn for Friday night and Saturday morning prayers. For Shabbos meals, the patterned (less expensive) polyester Bekishe, with an attached belt, also known as an Ess Chalat (Hebrew) or a Tish Bekishe (Yiddish), is worn. The Tish Bekishe is also worn during the Shabbos afternoon prayer service and the night after Shabbos. Some non-Hassidic Orthodox Jews wear a Tish Bekishe at home during the Shabbos meals. Many Hassidic Rebbes, mainly of Hungarian lineage, wear Tish Bekishes with various colors, usually either, blue, silver, often with black.

Most married Chabad hasidim wear a long black Kapoteh (frock coat) instead of a bekishe. The woolen Kapoteh, besides its unique waist seam construction, has four buttons in the front (as opposed to six on the front of a bekishe), as well as slit in the back, which is lacking on the bekishe.

Many Hassidic Rebbes wear Samet (velvet) or Strohkes (velvet piping), symbolizing tefillin, on the bekeshe. (As is pictured above.)

• Why the Long Black Coat? from chabad.org