Why Jews Wear Kippahs
Kippahs, or kippot in the Hebrew plural, are an instantly recognizable mark of Jewishness. They're a Jewish uniform.
Other People Are Reading
-
The Basic Reason
-
Jewish law requires that Jews show proper respect to God at all times. As a token of this, men are required to cover their heads while at prayer.
Expansion of the Law
-
Halacha, the canon of Jewish law, requires that men cover their heads indoors and outdoors, during and away from prayer times, as a reminder that God is always above. The kippah is an outward sign of respect for the divine.
-
Types of Kippot
-
Kippot come in wide variety of sizes and styles. The most common are black velvet kippot, usually worn by ultra-Orthodox Jews, and "knit" (crocheted) kippot, usually worn by religious Zionists and Modern Orthodox.
Kippot as Political Statements
-
In 2009 Israel, a section of society is both Orthodox and Zionist. The religious Zionists have made the knit kippah a mark of their affiliation, and when secular Israelis wear such a kippah, it is a statement of Zionist political opinions.
Women and Kippot
-
Women are exempt from the requirement to wear kippot; rather, married women cover their hair for reasons of modesty. Women in some non-Orthodox communities have taken to wearing kippot--at prayer and other times--as sign of religious egalitarianism.
-
