Kippah
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A kippah (Hebrew: כִּפָּה, also kipah, kipa, kippa, plural kippot; Yiddish: יאַרמלקע, yarmlke, yarmulke, yarmulka, yarmelke, less commonly called kapel) is a thin, usually slightly-rounded cloth skullcap worn by observant Jews (usually men, but not always; see below). Kipot range in size from four inches to 9.5 inches (100 mm to 240 mm) or larger in diameter.
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Head Coverings in Ancient Israelite Culture
The Tanach (The Hebrew Bible) contain scarcely anything about head coverings; neither do ancient monuments furnish very much material. The Israelites on Sennacherib's marble relief appear with no head-dress, and although the ambassadors of Jehu on the Shalmaneser stele have a head-covering, their costume seems to be Assyrian rather than Israelitish. Only one passage of the older literature is of any significance: I Kings 20:31 mentions חֲבָליִם "havalim" together with שַׂקּיִם "saqqim," both of which are placed around the head. This calls to mind pictures of Syrians on Egyptian monuments, represented wearing a cord around their long, flowing hair, a custom still followed in Arabia. Evidently the costume of the poorest classes is represented; but as it gave absolutely no protection against the heat of the sun to which a worker in the fields is so often exposed, there is little probability that it remained unchanged very long, although it may have been the most ancient fashion.
The Israelites most probably had a head-dress similar to that worn by the Bedouins. This consists of a keffieh folded into a triangle, and placed on the head with the middle ends hanging over the neck to protect it, while the other two are knotted together under the chin. A thick woolen cord ("'akal") holds the cloth firmly on the head. In later times the Israelites, both men and women, adopted a turban-like head-dress more like that of the fellahs of to-day. The latter wear a little cap ("Takiyah"), usually made of cotton cloth folded doubly or triply, which is supposed to shield the other parts of the head-covering from perspiration. With boys this often forms the only head-covering. Under this cap are placed one, often two, felt caps ("lubbadah"), and the national head-dress of the Turks, the red tarboosh. Around this, finally, is wound either an unbleached cotton cloth with red stripes and fringe, a gaily flowered "mandil," a red-and yellow-striped keffich, a black cashmere scarf, a piece of white muslin, or a colored cloth. Such a covering not only keeps off the scorching rays of the sun, but it also furnishes a convenient pillow on occasion, and is not seldom used by the fellahs for preserving important documents.
That the head-dress of the Israelites must have been of this kind is shown by the noun צַנִיף "Tzanif" and by the verb חַבָּש "Habash" (to wind; comp. Ezekiel 16:10; Jonah 2:6). "Tzanaf" means "to roll like a ball" (Isaiah 22:18). As to the form of such turbans nothing is known; perhaps they varied according to the different classes of society, as was customary with the Assyrians and Babylonians, whose fashions may have influenced the costume of the Israelites. [1] Middle Eastern and North African Jewish community head dress may also resemble that of the ancient Israelites. In Yemen the wrap around the cap was called מַצַר "Massar" the head covering worn by all women according to Dath Mosha was a גַּרגוּש "Gargush". [2]
Traditions
Traditionally the kippah was worn only by men (women covered their heads more completely with scarves, hats, or wigs), but in modern times the push for equality between the sexes in the practice of Judaism has led some non-Orthodox women to also wear kippot. Some Jews wear kippot only while praying, making blessings, or studying Jewish religious texts; more traditional Jews wear kippot the entire day, making sure not to walk more than four cubits (about 2 m) without a head covering, especially outside.
Image:Na-nach-nachma-yarmulke.jpg
Any head covering is acceptable according to halakha (Jewish law); a kippah is simply a convenient alternative due to its compactness and low weight, though it has become identified as a symbol of Jewishness in the last century. Many Orthodox males alternatively wear more conventional headwear in other social settings. However, in American cities with large populations of observant Jews, the kippah is more socially acceptable in indoor places where Gentiles normally remove their hats, such as schools, office buildings, courtrooms, etc.
Often, the color and fabric of the kippah can be a sign of adherence to a specific religious movement. The Israeli Religious Zionist community is often referred to by the name kippot srugot (Hebrew כיפות סרוגות), literally "knitted kippot," though they are typically crocheted. American Modern Orthodox Jews typically wear either knitted kippot or black, leather-made kippot. Similarly, some Haredi sects are referred to by the name kipot shkhorot (Hebrew כיפות שחורות), literally "black kippot". Kippot shkhorot are usually sewn of black fabric and often made larger than kippot srugot, particularly those worn outside Israel. More recently, kippot in the colours of a sports team supported by the wearer, especially football, have been observed. In the United States, children's kippot with cartoon characters or themes such as Star Wars are popular. (In response to this trend, some Jewish schools have banned kippot with characters that do not conform to traditional Jewish values.) Some Breslov Hasidim, most notably the followers of the late Rabbi Yisroel Ber Odesser, wear a large white knitted yarmulke with the Na Nach Nachma mantra on it.
Etymology
In Hebrew, the word kippah means dome, but the etymology of yarmulke is not clear. Some linguists (e.g. Max Vasmer) maintain that the Yiddish word is derived (via Ukrainian or Polish) from the Turkic yağmurluk, meaning 'rainwear'. Other linguists (e.g. Herbert Zeiden) regard this hypothesis as untenable but still believe a Turkic origin is likely, suggesting that the first part of the word may come from yarim, a Turkic adjective meaning 'half', while the second part may come from qap, a Turkic word for 'cap', 'shell', 'enclosure', or 'container'.
Traditionally, yarmulke is considered to have originated from the Aramaic phrase "yarei mei-elokah" (in awe of the Lord), or perhaps, "yira malkah" (fear of the King), in keeping with the principle that the yarmulke is supposed to reflect someone's fear of heaven.
Purpose
The sources for wearing a kippah are found in the Talmud. In tractate Shabbat 156b it states Cover your head in order that the fear of heaven may be upon you. As well, in tractate Kiddushin 31a it states Rabbi Huna the son of Rabbi Joshua never walked 4 cubits (2 meters) with his head uncovered. He explained: "Because the Divine Presence (Shekhina) is always over my head." While there is a minority opinion that wearing a kippah is a Torah commandment, most halakhic decisors agree that it is merely a custom. The prevailing view among Rabbinical authorities is that this custom has taken on the force of law (Shulkhan Arukh, Orach Chayim 2:6). From a strictly talmudic point of view, however, the only moment when a Jewish man is required to cover his head is during prayer (Mishne Torah, Ahavah, Hilkhot Tefilah 5:5).
Reasons given for wearing a kippah today include:
- recognition that God is "above" humankind,
- "acceptance" of the 613 mitzvot (commandments),
- "identification" with the Jewish people.
Some have a custom of wearing two head coverings, typically a kippah and a hat on top, for Kabbalistic reasons; the two coverings correspond to two levels of intellect, or two levels in the fear of God. The High Priest of the Temple in Jerusalem, the Kohen Gadol, also used to wear a woolen kippa under his priestly hat (Talmud Chulin 138a)[3].
External links
- Aish HaTorah's Ask the Rabbi on head covering
- Ohr Someyach's Ask the Rabbi on head covering
- The Skullcap - A brief treatise on the significance of covering one's head with a Kipah
- Chabad-Lubavitch Laws of head covering
- What's up with the Kipah?
- More on kippot
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