A small family workshop · every shtreimel sewn by hand
A crown for Shabbat and Yom Tov, sewn especially for your head.
Itzhak measures, selects the tails and sews every shtreimel by hand in his workshop. Height, width and number of tails follow your family custom and your exact head size.
Every model is made to measure. The final price is set after measuring and choosing the tails.
Most popular
Shtreimel · wide and low
Classic wide shtreimel
A black velvet crown surrounded by fur tails, in the style of Galician, Hungarian and Romanian Hasidim.
Suits: Shabbat, festivals and weddings
From [price]
Tall
Spodik · tall
Spodik
A taller, narrower shtreimel, following the custom of Polish Hasidim.
Suits: Communities of Polish tradition
From [price]
For rainy days
Second shtreimel
Rain shtreimel
A simpler shtreimel worn when the good one might get damaged.
Suits: Alongside your Shabbat shtreimel
From [price]
No animal fur
Synthetic fur
Synthetic-fur shtreimel
Same shape, same hand sewing, in synthetic fur.
Suits: Those who prefer non-animal fur
From [price]
Service
Service
Shtreimel renewal & repair
Cleaning, combing, replacing tails and resizing an existing shtreimel.
Suits: An old shtreimel that needs renewing
[price after inspection]
Choosing the number of tails
Every number has a meaning
The customary numbers are 13, 18 and 26 tails, and some shtreimels have more. Pick yours and it will be noted on your order.
Selected: 18 tails
From measuring to delivery
How a made-to-measure shtreimel is sewn
1
Head measurement
Your head is measured in the workshop, over the kippah, so the shtreimel sits exactly right.
2
Choosing style and height
Wide and low, or tall (spodik), following your community's custom.
3
Choosing tails and material
The number of tails, and natural or synthetic fur.
4
Sewn by hand
Itzhak sews the velvet crown and arranges the tails around it. Working time: [X weeks].
5
Fitting & delivery
A final fitting on your head, small adjustments if needed, and delivery in its box.
Can't come to the workshop? Measure at home
Wrap a soft measuring tape around your head, across the middle of the forehead and above the ears, with your kippah on. Enter the size in centimetres on the order form and Itzhak will call you back to confirm.
Raw material
From raw deer-tail hair to a Shabbat shine
Itzhak works with deer-tail hair. Each bundle is hand-picked, treated and finished in the workshop until the hair is soft, glossy and even in colour, and only then sewn into a shtreimel.
Bundles of deer-tail hair on the workbenchBefore treatmentAfter treatment
Fit quiz
Which shtreimel suits you? 3 questions
Step 1 of 3
What is the shtreimel for?
Tradition & history
What is a shtreimel?
A shtreimel is a fur hat worn by Ashkenazi Jewish men, mainly Hasidim, on Shabbat, festivals and celebrations. In Jerusalem it is also worn by Lithuanian Jews. It is usually first worn after the wedding, and in some communities from bar mitzvah.
The shtreimel is always worn over the kippah. In halacha it has no status as a religious head covering, but among the Hasidim of Galicia, Poland and Hungary it is seen as a royal crown that adds honour and beauty to Shabbat.
Hasidim from Congress Poland wear a tall shtreimel called a spodik. Until the 20th century, the shtreimels of Galician, Romanian and Hungarian Hasidim were a large black velvet crown surrounded by fur.
By custom, the bride's father buys the shtreimel for the groom before the wedding. In the United States it is common to buy two: an expensive one, and a cheaper rain shtreimel for days when the good one might be damaged.
"The shtreimel takes the place of tefillin"
Rabbi Pinchas of Koretz (1726–1791)
What is a shtreimel made of?
Traditionally, from the tails of Canadian or Russian sable, stone marten, pine marten or grey fox. In recent years some rabbis have recommended synthetic fur.
In Itzhak's workshop: deer-tail hair, treated and finished before sewing.
About the workshop
Itzhak, shtreimel craftsman
Itzhak runs a small workshop where every shtreimel is sewn by hand, to the size of the head and the custom of the family. No mass production: every customer is measured, chooses, and comes back for a final fitting.
[Personal story: years in the trade, who taught him the craft, which city the workshop is in]
Itzhak at work in the workshop
Workshop address: [address]Opening hours: [days and hours] · closed on Shabbat and Jewish holidaysPhone:053-3110924 · WhatsAppEmail:148yamaz@gmail.com
FAQ
Shtreimel questions & answers
How much does a handmade shtreimel cost?
The price is set after measuring, according to the type of shtreimel, the number of tails and the fur. Send Itzhak a WhatsApp message for a quote.
How do I measure my head for a shtreimel?
Wrap a soft measuring tape around your head, across the middle of the forehead and above the ears, with your kippah on, and note the size in centimetres. You can also come to the workshop to be measured.
How long does it take to make a shtreimel?
Every shtreimel is sewn by hand and to order, so it is best to order some time before the wedding. Itzhak confirms the delivery date when the order is opened.
What are Itzhak's shtreimels made of?
Itzhak works with deer-tail hair that is treated and finished in the workshop, and a synthetic-fur shtreimel is also available.
What is the difference between a shtreimel and a spodik?
The common shtreimel is wide and low, following the custom of Galician, Hungarian and Romanian Hasidim. The spodik is taller and narrower, following the custom of Polish Hasidim.
How many tails does a shtreimel have?
The customary numbers are 13, 18 and 26 tails, and some shtreimels have more, such as 42. Each number has a meaning, and you choose it when ordering.
Can an old shtreimel be renewed or repaired?
Yes. Itzhak cleans, combs, replaces tails and resizes existing shtreimels. Bring yours to the workshop for a check.
Who buys the shtreimel for the groom?
By custom, the bride's father buys the shtreimel for the groom before the wedding. The workshop arranges the measurement with the groom.
Customers say
Sample quotes only · to be replaced with real quotes with customers' permission
"Itzhak measured, listened to our family custom, and the shtreimel sits as if it was born there."
Father of the bride · [city]
"I got my shtreimel for the wedding. It's light, glossy, and keeps its shape even months later."
Groom · [community]
"I brought in a twenty-year-old shtreimel. Itzhak gave it back to me like new."
