Rabbi Gerschwitz

[SilentMode]

Having given a sermon at Greatland Port Street synagogue, Rabbi Roger Gerschwitz beats a hasty path to his limo convoy.

Let me state from the outset that I know next to nothing about Judaism, but I've always been fascinated by this associated clothing style. The idea for this figure came through developing a custom item (a wide-brimmed hat) for another figure idea I had, which has yet to come to any fruition. Not all Jewish people dress like this, of course - sadly I had to point that out.

The name Gerschwitz was inspired by the movie A Fish Called Wanda: a film I watched when I was younger but could only understand recently.

Front

The rabbi's hat is a modified top hat: lots of measuring and cutting were required to make it the right height and fit, and then the joins were covered in Milliputt and painted over (using Decorlack). By far the trickiest part was adding the "curly locks" to the hat, which was done using pieces of a very thin sheet styrene rod and more Milliputt, also painted.

The jacket is made from black card with the lapels glued on, and goes over the body like a vest to allow free arm movement. Because of this I also painted the sides of the torso black.

Initially I was going to add a characteristic beard, perhaps even getting one from Brickforge, but I thought it would be overkill.

Side

Back

The whole thing would probably cost £5 to make (not including the sheet styrene, which wasn't really necessary), although again I had the materials already.

For more pictures of the rabbi and the vignette see my Brickshelf folder.

Edited November 9, 2011 by SilentMode

[Big Cam]

Really well done, that hat with hair extensions looks great, and you chose the perfect face.

[Clone OPatra]

You've captured a certain sect of Jews well; specifically, Hasidim. There are not a whole lot of communities that dress in this style any more, but there are a few in New York, Israel, and a few other locations.

Really just leaving him as a Rabbi figure is fine. The comment about Israel could inflame political sensitivities that you just don't want to do, and I don't see the relevance. Hopefully nobody would go there, but I've seen it happen before. Also, you seem to connote in your post that all Jews dress in this style, so you may want to specify. The figure clearly has a Jewish style, but it hasn't been widespread for a long time. Most typical Orthodox Jews, as I am one, either dress in completely regular clothes or in a normal suit on a day-to-day basis.

Again, I like the figure very much. I just wanted to point this stuff out in case somebody else takes offense, as I have seen happen before on a Jewish MOC that I made for a raffle one time.

[LuxorV]

Nice entry, SilentMode.

Please make sure the side and back shots are full-side and full-back, not 3/4 as they are now.

[SilentMode]

I've updated the back and side photos; fortunately I had already taken them.

If I hadn't done a rabbi I would have gone for a matador, which I guess is just as controversial.

[LuxorV]

I've updated the back and side photos; fortunately I had already taken them.

Thank you. Everything is fine now. Good luck!