Kippah
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- "Kipa" redirects here. For the supermarket, please see Kipa (supermarket).
| Halakhic sources | |
|---|---|
| Note: Not meant as a definitive ruling. Some observances may be rabbinical, or customs, or Torah based. | |
| Texts in Jewish law relating to this article: | |
| Bible: | |
| Mishnah: | |
| Babylonian Talmud: | Shabbat 156b and Kiddushin 32a |
| Jerusalem Talmud: | |
| Mishneh Torah: | Ahavah, Hilkhot Tefilah 5:5 |
| Shulkhan Arukh: | Orach Chayim 2:6 |
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).
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[edit] Head coverings in ancient Israelite culture
The Tanach (The Hebrew Bible) contains scarcely anything about head coverings; neither do ancient monuments furnish very much material. The Israelites on Sennacherib's marble relief appear with no headdress, 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 headdress 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 headdress more like that of the fellahs of today. 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 headdress 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 headdress 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]
[edit] Traditions
The kippah is worn only by men (women covered their heads more completely with scarves, hats, or wigs). 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 two meters) without a head covering, especially outside.
Any head covering is acceptable according to halakha (Jewish law) because there is no Jewish law regarding head coverings. A kippah is a convenient alternative due to its compactness and lightness; it has become identified as a symbol of Judaism in the last century. Many Orthodox males - who favor large black cloth or velvet yarmulkes - will wear Fedoras or Borsalinos with their yarmulkes worn underneath. The double head-covering has Kabbalistic meaning to the Hasidim, especially. However, in American cities with large populations of observant Jews, the kippah is less common in indoor places, where Gentiles normally remove their hats, such as schools, office buildings, courtrooms, etc. American Jews often have difficulty struggling with whether or not to wear a kippah publicly. Some even question whether or not to wear them to synagogue.
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 serugot (Hebrew כיפות סרוגות), literally "knitted kippot," though they are typically crocheted. (This has led to the humorous custom among girls to refer to men who wear crocheted kippot as "serugah".) American Modern Orthodox Jews typically wear small suede or leather yarmulkes, requiring special clips to hold them in place. Some Haredi sects are referred to by the name kipot shekhorot (Hebrew כיפות שחורות), literally "black kippot". Kippot shekhorot are usually sewn of black fabric and often made larger than kippot serugot, particularly those worn outside Israel.
In Israel, large crocheted kippot are the norm. Many young people, however, wear small kippot; young Orthodox Jews in Israel continue to favor the small black crocheted yarmulke. Men of Jewish faith serving in the Israeli Defense Forces wear a standard-issue olive drab kippah.
Colors play a large role, though much less so today than formerly. Soft, muted browns and blues, crocheted, indicate strong Zionist beliefs. (Rabbis and other leaders wear very large versions of these crocheted kippot.) Small, coaster-sized black crocheted yarmulkes once indicated a modernist leaning, but today most young people wear these.
The original Sephardic custom was to wear yarmulkes that resemble the skullcaps of the Catholic Church- indeed, such skullcaps originated in the Jewish tradition. Many 19th century American Jews wore pillbox kippot or other shapeless head coverings. Reform Jews ceased wearing kippot around the same period.
In the early 19th century in the United States rabbis often wore a scholar's cap (large saucer-shaped caps of cloth, like a beret) or Chinese skullcap. A famous Californian rabbi, the Moldavian Rabbi Benjamin ben Benjamin (Rabbi Benjamin II), is pictured in a beautiful engraved portrait wearing a Chinese silk skullcap.
Other Jews of this era wore black pillbox-shaped kippot. During the Polemic Wars in the mid-1800s, Reformers led by Rabbi Isaac Weiss stopped wearing kippot altogether. This happened as a direct result of Rabbi Isaac's kippah being knocked off his head during an altercation in the synagogue at Baltimore.[citation needed]
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, known commonly as Bratzlavers, 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. (Rabbi Yisroel found this mantra in the form of a little note that fluttered out of a book he was perusing, one day in 1886 or 1887. The note, called the "Letter from Heaven" and "The Holy Note", is hand copied onto parchments that are worn around the neck.)
Bratzlavers most commonly wear full-head-sized crocheted yarmulkes, which are called "Bratzlavers".
"Kabbalist" yarmulkes are very popular today, consisting of a larger size and usually crocheted in a single, dark color. These seem to be reflections of the "Bratzlaver" kippot, which are designed to cover the entire head almost down to the ears. Such a large yarmulke is usually known as a "kufi", and is common among liberal Muslims.
Samaritan Jews once wore distinctive blue kippot, to separate them from Israelis who wore white ones, but today they more commonly wear turbans in the Sephardic tradition.
[edit] Etymology
The word Yarmulke is a Yiddish word. It comes from the Aramaic phrase "Yari Malka", meaning, "Fear of the King". This implies that one wearing a yarmulke should fear "the King", meaning God.
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'.
[edit] 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), because it is an act of Kiddush Ha-Shem, "Sanctifying the Holy Name". 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).
A Hasidic/Kabbalist tradition that the kippah reflects several ideas: one is that Ha-Shem covers us with His Divine Palm; indeed, the Hebrew word kaf means either "cloud" or "palm of the hand". The Hebrew letter kav is the first letter of the word kippah.
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,
- demonstration of the "ministry" of all Jews.
Some have a custom of wearing two head coverings, typically a kippah covered by a hat, 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 Kohain Gadol, also used to wear a woolen kippa under his priestly headdress (Talmud Chulin 138a)[3].
Others wear two head coverings for fashion reasons (i.e., e.g., the kippah and a baseball cap or dress hat) so that they may appear fashionable in public, while still having the kippah for indoors. In a sense this defeats the purpose of wearing a yarmulke, as it is customary for the yarmulke to be visible to others from all angles.
[edit] Non-Jewish equivalents
[edit] Muslim
Some Muslims wear a kippah equivalent called a kufi. In the United States, the kufi is often associated with Muslims of African descent. A possible origin of this practice is a particular sunnah which states that the followers of Mohammed were never seen without a head covering.[citation needed] A kufi covers most of the head and is usually white or black.The modern Kufis worn by Muslims were influenced by the kippot worn by the Jews of Arabia.
The Doppa, a square or round skullcap originating in the Caucasus and worn by Kazan Tatars, Uzbeks and Uyghurs is another example of a Muslim skullcap. The doppa is derived from a Turkic, more pointed ancestral cap, which can be seen in some of the portraits of Jalaleddin Mingburnu.
Conservative Muslims in Malaysia, especially in the rural areas, are often seen wearing a thin "kopiah", which looks almost exactly like the kippah in outward appearance.
[edit] Druze
The origins of the Druze are Muslim and followers of the faith traditionally consider themselves such, but their status is disputed in the wider Muslim community. However, their usage of headwear is similar; some Druze also wear the fez or pillbox skullcap.
[edit] Zorastrian
The topi is a pillbox (or "smoking cap") shaped skullcap, worn by Zoroastrians. Like the doppah, it is possible that the topi may have had influence on the use of the kippa.
[edit] Christian
The zucchetto (Italian for "small gourd") of the Roman Catholic Church is based on a very old kippah design. The cap is traditionally worn by clergy members and its color denotes the rank of the wearer: the Pope wears a white cap, Cardinals red, Bishops, as well as territorial abbots and terretorial prelates wear caps that are violet, and Deacons and Priests are permitted to wear a black zucchetto, although this practice is very rare. It was taken from the Jews as a custom sometime around the 5th century - but during the early days of the Inquisition it was a most useful tool in spotting Jews: Catholic clerics remove the zucchetto in the presence of their superiors, and Jews cannot remove their kippot in this way.[citation needed]
[edit] Buddhist
Buddhist priests in China wear the bao-tzu (more commonly known as the mao-tzu), the classic skullcap that is the most like the Jewish tradition. In Japan, the cap is more in the form of a pillbox and is called the bosa. Though not of ecclesiastical significance, the Buddhist skullcap does denote something about the priest's standing in the community.
[edit] Secular
Switzerland is home to the Cup-and-Ring (or Kuppa-unt-Hinge) skullcap, a straw cap with embroidered flowers, a small pom-pom in the center, and velvet strips sewn round it in rings. This cap is worn by shepherds for luck and by married men (for fertility).
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: |
- 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?
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