Yarmulka
A yarmulke (Yiddish יאַרמלקע yarmlke) or Kippah (Hebrew כפה kippāh) is a small cloth cap worn by Jews.
Traditionally it was worn only by men, but in modern times the push for equality between the sexes in the practice of Judaism has lead some women to wear yarmulkes. Some Jews only wear yarmulkes while praying; others wear yarmulkes the entire day, making sure not to walk more than four cubits without head covering (especially outside).
The basis for wearing a head covering is a story in the Talmud (tractate Shabbat).
Often, the color and fabric of the yarmulke can be a sign of adherence to a specific religious movement. The Israeli Religious Zionist community is often referred to by the name kipot srugot כיפות סרוגות, literally "woven yarmulkes". Similarly, some Haredi sects are referred to by the name kipot shkhorot כיפות שחורות, literally "black yarmulkes".
Etymology
The etymology of yarmulke is unclear. Linguists (e.g. Max Vasmer) maintain that the Yiddish word is derived (via Ukrainian or Polish) from the Turkic yağmurluk, meaning 'rainwear'.
Traditionally, yarmulke is considered to have originated from the Aramaic phrase "yarei mei-elokah" (in awe of the Lord), in keeping with the principle that the yarmulke is supposed to reflect someone's fear of heaven. Or perhaps, "yira malkah" (fear of the King).
In Hebrew language, the word "Kippah" means dome.
Why Jews wear Kippah?
Rabbi Shay Piron from "" website answers:
- The source of weaing Kippah or any other head-cover is brought in the Gmara in Masechet Kidushin. There it is writen that wearing Kipa is a virtue of piety ( חסידות ). That way, a person expresses that "God (Shekhina) dwells above my head" ( "שכינה למעלה מראשי" ).
- In days were self-satisfaction take so much place, and the emphasis on the "me" gets out of proportions, we need to remember what is above us.
- Though, the 19th in sign 8 of responsa או"ח bring the single opinion that wearing Kipa is "deoreyata" ( דאורייתא ), but it is not the opinion of the majority of the posek Rabbis (arbitars).
- The arbitars of our generation, and it is recommended to see and study Rabbi Ovadia Yosef answers in the responsa book "Yechavei Da'ath", added another layer to the weaing of Kipa. Today, the Kipa is a symbol of a religious man. It has an experssion of belonging, of identifying (with Judaism), as well as an experssion for accepting the burden of Mitzvot derived from the fact that we are adherent to the Torah and its commandments ( שומרי תורה ומצוות ).
- And if you say: why to give so much weight to symbols?
- Behold, in the days of my life I saw that unimportant symbols, are symbols that no one identify with. For some reason, I never met a paratrooper who give up on his red boots, or the pilot who give up wearing "Flight wings" or the professor who will omit his title. All of these symbols earned their status, from the power of the great investment, effort and perspiration that people spent to achieve them.
- The Kipa is a major factor in the joining of the indivdual ( יחיד , yachid ) into the collective ( יחד , yachad ), into the religious public. Not only piety there is in the Kipa, but also an element of "unit's pride" and belonging that helps the individual to travel in the path of a wandering world, who seek its way and indentity.
- Need to be noted, that this answer doesn't relate to the question of wearing Kipa during ritul blessings, prayers and study of Torah.
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