Why Do We Wear a Kippah? - Learning & Values

Question:

Is the kippah a symbolic reminder intended to prevent assimilation, or is the kippah a biblical obligation, like the tzitzit?

Answer:

The tradition to wear a kippah is not derived from any biblical passage. Rather, it is a custom which evolved as a sign of our recognition that there is Someone “above” us who watches our every act.

The Talmud1 relates that a woman was once told by astrologers that her son is destined to be a thief. To prevent this from happening, she insisted that he always have his head covered, to remind him of G‑d’s presence and instill within him the fear of heaven. Once, while sitting under a palm tree, his headcovering fell off. He was suddenly overcome by an urge to eat a fruit from the tree, which did not belong to him. It was then that he realized the strong effect which the wearing of a kippah had on him.

In Talmudic times, the practice of wearing a headcovering was reserved for men of great stature. In later generations, though, it became the accepted custom for all Jewish men to wear a kippah at all times, and especially during prayer. As with all Jewish customs, once they become a universally accepted Jewish practice, they become halachically obligatory.

According to some opinions, since wearing a kippah has become a form of distinction between Jews and non-Jews, failure to wear a headcovering falls under the prohibition of “you shall not follow their statutes.”2

Click here for more about the kippah.

FOOTNOTES
1.	Shabbat 156b.
2.	Leviticus 18:3.

By Baruch S. Davidson

Rabbi Baruch S. Davidson is a member of the Chabad.org Ask the Rabbi team.

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March 12, 2012

Response to the discussion

Thanks to Jonathan from Spain for identifying this dome. I have not been to Jerusalem. It would make sense that the stained glass dome when be designed as a "kippah" for a synagogue.

When I spoke earlier in the discussion about women wearing headcovering I may have been misunderstood to mean that women wear kippah. To be clear I was referring to the haircovering as seen with a scarf, wig, or hat commonly observed with observant modest Jewish women.

Is ithe kippah commanded in Torah? If it was commanded for the priests, but the Hashem proclaimed Israel to be a nation of priests. Was this how the sages extended the practice. I too would like to know when the practice began. Was it after the destruction of the temple, when the altar was proclaimed to be in the home, at the Shabbat table?

From Liora Pier ie Anonymous, Severy
San Jose, CA

March 7, 2012

Photo

@ Anonymous, Severy.

The photo, I believe, is the dome from the Hurvah synagogue in the Old City of Jerusalem.

Jonathan
Cadiz, Spain

February 29, 2012

No adding or Subtracting laws

I agree with Steve Katz and disagree with Baruch Davidson. As the Torah says, We are not to add or subtract laws. The article says, "As with all Jewish customs, once they become a universally accepted Jewish practice, they become halachically obligatory." It doesn't say that anywhere in the Torah, does it? I think the Oral Law was meant to keep the interpretation of the Torah fluid and dynamic. I understand and agree with why it was written down in the Talmud but that should not make it permanent. If we are to be a vibrant people, we need a living religion, not one which is static.
I think it would be more helpful to discuss why so many people choose to tuck in there tzizit rather than wear it out. The Torah makes it very clear that it should be visible. Thank you.

Marty
Denver

February 29, 2012

to Anonymous in Severy

The material of the dome window seems to say kippah and have gem records of mens' headcoverings through history. A picture can mean more than a thousand words.

Anonymous
Kanata, ON

February 29, 2012

Customs

It is not a biblical commandment but rather a custom to wear a kippah. There are much more than 613 commandments in the Pentateuch and they can all be rated in some sort of hierarchy of importance. If some men want to wear a kippah so be it. Women wearing a kippah is not on in my opinion.

Adam Neira
Paris, France

February 29, 2012

this most beautiful picture

reminds me, as it did, another person commenting, of the kippah, and this mirroring is profoundly beautiful. Many years ago a kippah was put on the dome of the MIT main building, as part of what students do in creating pranks at MIT. The dome of the Cathedral as portrayed in this picture is another metaphoric way of explicating a truth that is about one ness in all creativity and creation. I think this alone, speaks volumes, even without this article that is explicating to others the emergent meaing of wearing a kippa. I think if you bear G_d in your heart you could be said to wear that kippa. There re different ways of covering and uncovering one's true HEART.

ruth housman
marshfield hills, ma

February 29, 2012

"You shall not follow their statutes" Isn't that the same head coverings that the Catholic priests wear?

frank dolincheck
omaha, NE

April 12, 2010

The picture

I find the photo that you posted with this article quite fascinating. There is quite a resemblance to a kippah with the sun shining through this dome. Is this a cathedral? Can you tell me about where this is, and how it applies to Judaism?

Anonymous
Severy, KS

April 12, 2010

Biblical Headcovering

There are some interesting scriptural references to men covering their heads. The priests were the first to be commanded to wear a "turbans" of linen. Exodus 39:28. This was described as a "hemispherical cap". We also find the male leper was to have his head uncovered. Is this implied that it was the custom of men to cover their heads? Leviticus 13:45. Daniel's friends, who were cast into the furnace, had hats on. Daniel 3:21. David ascended Mount Olivet barefoot and with his head covered, and all the people also covered their heads. 2 Samuel 15:22.

Like the Jewess wears a headcovering because there are scriptural allusions to its practice in the Torah and the prophets, men also have scriptural reasons to cover the heads. The custom as it stands and its specific appearance and application may have been guided and "instituted" by the rabbis.
What are your thoughts toward these scriptures?

Liora Pier
Severy, KS

November 10, 2009

Re: Steve Katz

The prohibition of adding to the Torah only applies if one were to institute an additional law and say that it is Biblically mandated. The sages or rabbis may, however, institute a new custom or safeguard, provided that they specify that this is a Rabbinic decree.

Baruch S. Davidson
NYC

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