Photo © Israel Museum, Jerusalem, by Elie Posner

These garments belonged to Chief Rabbi Sasson Kadoorie (1880-1971), who held his post from the 1920s until his death. With its multiple robes, this outfit was typical of the attire worn by Iraqi rabbis from the late 19th to the mid-20th century. The first, striped robe is cut in traditional ottoman fashion, the middle one is machine-made, and the upper one was worn by eminent individuals throughout the Middle East. The most distinctive feature of this outfit is the headdress - a fixed turban made of a soft fringed fez surrounded by an embroidered cashmere shawl.

Robe
Silk and cutton satin from Damascus

Upper robe
Machine-made wool

Uppermost robe
Camel hair with couched silk cords

Headdress
Fez: felted wool, silk tassel
Turban: wool, cashmere weave, wool embroidery

Gift of Rabbi Kadoorie’s children: Shaoul Sassoon, London, Victoria Nissim and Marcelle Semah, Givatayim, Dr. Meir Sasson, Tel-Aviv, Salman Sassoon, California
Accession number: B82.0346, B82.0345, B83.0205, B82.0342