Are they Jewish?

The man in this couple has peyes, or sidelocks, so he is a Jewish Orthodox man. This woman is wearing a headscarf, so it is likely that she was an Orthodox Jewish woman.

A Jewish Orthodox couple.

Jewish Orthodox women at a market.

Three men sitting. The two to the left are Orthodox Jews. The one to the right is unclear.

The two men to the left are Orthodox Jews. The man sitting on the right could be Jewish or not - because they wore similar clothing it is hard to say.

The man in this couple has peyes, or sidelocks, so he is a Jewish Orthodox man. Fashion at the time was quite similar for both Orthodox and secular Jewish men, as well as for non-Jews. All men wore hats and dark coats. Often the only sign that a man was an Orthodox Jew were sidelocks, which at the time were worn tucked behind the ears. However, it is important to note that in Vilna, the capital of misnagdic (non-Hasidic orthodoxy) learning, beards were not obligatory and visible peyes were less common.

This woman is wearing a headscarf, so it is likely that she was an Orthodox Jewish woman. Fashion at the time was quite similar for Orthodox, secular Jewish women, and non-Jews. All women wore modest clothing that covered more of their bodies, as well as hats. It was also not uncommon for Orthodox Jewish women to wear colorful clothing. They didn’t only wear black. But only married Orthodox Jewish women were obliged to cover their hair in observance of religious laws of modesty. That means the only sign that a woman was an Orthodox Jew was often a head covering. Therefore, it was really hard to say who was Jewish or not just by looking at a person passing by on a street.

In the 1930s approximately 40% of Vilna’s population was Jewish, and a third to a half were Orthodox Jews.