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For a few years I’ve been wondering why you can’t buy good, traditional Purim costumes online. It seems like a great business opportunity, since usually the kids don’t have to try them on and it’s hard to find them in stores, unless you live in a majorly Jewish area.
Well apparently, great business minds think alike, because this year retailing giant Walmart has started carrying all manner of traditional Purim costumes – from Queen Esther to the Kohen Gadol (the High Priest).
The Chassidic Rebbe costume is a bargain. Sadly, the Streimel is not included!
If these sell well, I wonder if Walmart will start stocking adult chassidic clothing, like turbans, robes and bekeshes?
These costumes are the “real thing,” at least in the sense that they are the same made-in-China p0lyester numbers you see on thousands of happy kids in Boro Park and Jerusalem. As far as historical accuracy, it’s better not to ask questions, and hope that your kids won’t either.
For example, this Kohen Gadol costume is missing the several important pieces of the traditional outfit, including the belt and the apron, but it does appear that those are real peyos, so it’s probably kosher!
It’s fun to laugh at the phenomenon, but in fact Walmart is very smart and it is in fact the only place to buy “authentic” Purim costumes online in the US. At this rate, they will corner the market!
I wonder what Queen Esther would say about that? Well, you can find out for only $28!
