What Is a Kippa?
A kippa, or kippah (kippot is plural), is a cap with religious significance within Judaism. It is traditionally worn by men within both the Conservative and Reform sections. The basic shape of a kippa is typically a convex skullcap.
The word "kippah" comes from the Hebrew word for "dome" and is transliterated the same way.
Throughout the generations and faction splits, the meaning of the kippah, and the rules of wearing one have in some ways diverged or multiplied. However, the basic meaning usually remains the same: an acknowledgment of the Lord and a statement of faith.
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History
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References to the kippah can be found in the Talmud (book of Jewish law) in such places as Shabbat 156b and Kiddushin 31a. In the Talmud, a man is required to wear a kippah only when praying.
However, experts in the Jewish law (halakha) believe the custom of wearing a kippah took on a life of its own. It is thought that this "custom" became more powerful because it was an act of Kiddush HaShem (sanctifying the name of God).
Features
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A kippah is often crocheted but includes such material as silk. They come in a wide variety of colors, and some kippah designs are larger than the mainstream shape. This is the case with the kippot worn by the Na Nachs Jews, which also have writing crocheted on them.
The sizes and colors of kippot depend on custom. Various sections of Judaism hold different opinions as to what the proper kippah is. Hasidic Jews wear black kippot, but Reform Jews wear kippot of all colors. The size of a kippah ranges from covering the entire head to covering only part of the head. -
Function
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Kippot are generally used to demonstrate humility before the Lord, but they also can mean other things, such as acceptance of the Torah commandments (613 mitzvot).
Considerations
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The kippah is also called a yarmulke, though the origin of this word is unclear. Several theories have emerged, including that it comes from the Aramaic for "fear of the king" (yarei malka) or that it comes from the Polish word for "cap," which is "jarmułka."
In modern times, the kippah isn't worn only by men. Within Reform Judaism some women wear kippot.
Misconceptions
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Jewish law doesn't specifically mention the kippah as the right kind of head covering to wear to show reverence, and the rules for wearing one vary widely. The kippah may even be worn by non-religious Jewish people to show respect for Jewish religious practices, like weddings and sitting shiva (a type of wake).
Some sections of Judaism don't wear kippot. This can be seen in the Reformer Rabbi Isaac Wise's decision not to wear one. However, like non-Jewish people, non-kippot-wearing practicing Jews may wear kippot at certain appropriate occasions.
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