L ifestyles /C ulture
Jews of Philly Fashion: Emunah Wircberg
of space here — all artwork for Fishtown is the new hip place
to be, though. I feel blessed to
sale, contact for inquiries.

live back in the city that I grew
up in and have all these neigh-
Best neighborhood in
borhoods so close by.

Philadelphia (that’s not
Old City)?
This is honestly the hardest What talent would you most
question. Rittenhouse is so like to have?
Playing an instrument
classic Philadelphia. Love the
rich history that comes with would be cool. l
Old City, along with the quaint
coffee shops, boutiques and jbernstein@jewishexponent.com;
galleries. Northern Liberties/ 215-832-0740
FASHION JESSE BERNSTEIN | JE STAFF
It’s the newest edition of Jews
of Philly Fashion, introducing
you to the Chosen few who
dress our city. They might mix
wool and linen, but they’ve got
some strong opinions on mixing
stripes with florals. In this space,
we’ll talk to designers, sellers,
buyers, influencers, models and
more. This week, we spoke to
Emunah Wircberg.

IT’S HARD TO FIND the
time to be Emunah Wircberg.

She can barely find it herself.

Between raising three
children and running the Old
City Jewish Arts Center — along-
side her husband, Rabbi Zalman
Wircberg — the 28-year-old
Kosloff Torah Academy Girls’
High School graduate and
Philadelphia native needs to
work hard to find the time for
creative expression.

Running the OCJAC allows
for opportunities of that type,
given the breadth of non-vi-
sual arts
programming that’s usually offered (poetry
readings, cooking classes,
writing classes and more). But
to see Wircberg really shine,
you don’t need to go to OCJAC
at all.

Her tzniut-minded fashion
Instagram account, The Modest
Mom, has more than 20,000
followers. Wircberg, who
worked in the fashion industry
back when she and her husband
lived in Brooklyn, is now a
bona fide fashion influencer.

Her project, as she explains it,
is to help those who wish to
dress modestly to understand
that proposition as something
generative and exciting, rather
than restrictively drab and dull.

“I kind of wanted to show
for myself how you could dress
fashionably and have style while,
at the same time, adhering to
the guidelines of modesty,
which are so important,”
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM C h .ia
News for people
who know we don’t
mean spiced tea.

Every Thursday in the
JEWISH EXPONENT
and all the time online
@jewishexponent.com. For home delivery,
call 215.832.0710.

Emunah Wircberg, The Modest Mom
Photo by Rabbi Zalman Wircberg
Wircberg said. What started
as a hobby has grown into a
vehicle for Wircberg to attract
paid sponsors and raise money
for organizations like the Center
City Community Mikvah and
the Philly Friendship Circle.

Wircberg spoke about her
son’s avant-garde art, bringing
back old trends and her favorite
neighborhoods in Philadelphia.

What’s something you can’t
believe you used to wear?
No regrets. Well, actually,
I can’t believe I used to wear
heels every day! Mom of three
now, who am I kidding?
What clothing trend would
you like to see make a
comeback? Growing up in the ’90s, there
are many trends coming back
that bring me such joy. Fanny
packs, scrunchies and slip
dresses, to name a few. I’m also
loving some of the ’80s trends
— shoulder pads, oversized
menswear. I am a minimalist
when it comes to style, but love
incorporating these trends into
my wardrobe while adding my
own modest twist.

What item of clothing should
more people be wearing?
Everyone should invest in
an awesome pair of kicks. Most
days I can be found in my white
high-top basketball sneakers.

They’re trendy and, in my line
of work, comfort is key.

Name: Elana Collection
Width: 3.625 in
Depth: 5.5 in
Color: Black plus one
Comment: JE - Frequent Flyer
Ad Number: 00091790
What’s your go-to quarantine
meal? Any salad, always a pick-
me-up. Or a halvah milkshake.

What’s the oddest piece of art
that you have in your house?
I wouldn’t say oddest, but my
son Levi, 9, is an artist, and boy,
do we have a house filled with
his unique pieces. Running out
JEWISH EXPONENT
OCTOBER 29, 2020
27