Kipa - what is it? Types of Jewish headdress

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

The Jewish national headdress has attracted the attention of others more than once. Kipa - what is it? What does this little hat mean to a Hasid?

Kipa - what is it?

This word has several meanings. Kipa - what is it? In no case should it be confused with a stack of books or papers, as well as with sports equipment.

So, kippah - what is it? This word refers to the headdress of the Jewish population and not only.

It is known that a man, to show his respect for his friend, takes off his hat in front of him. Jews do, in fact, the same thing, only without taking off their headdress.

Very often, a kippah is called a yarmulke. This word is of unknown origin. Scholars point out that it may come from the military language and mean "awe before God."

And yet, kippah - what is it? This headdress is a small fabric cap, which is a pronounced symbol of the religiosity of the Jews. The law cannot oblige a person to wear a kippah. He does this only by observing and respecting traditions.

It should be noted that Orthodox Jews always wear this headdress, traditionalists and conservatives - only insynagogue or during meals. The reformers insist on the obligatory covering of a person's head with a kippah. Women are strictly forbidden to wear it. They can only cover their heads with a headscarf.

Kipa Headwear: A Brief History

There is an opinion that the notorious Laws of the Muslim caliph Omar served as an incentive for the adoption of the above cap as a headdress. According to them, Jews were forbidden to wear Muslim turbans. They must cover their heads with other head coverings.

Another version claims that the fashion for wearing a kippah was brought to the Jews by the Turks. Scientists insist: it is the second name of this headgear - yarmulke - which is translated from the Turkic language as "raincoat".

Only the priests of the Temple of Jerusalem at first could cover their heads with the above headdress. But over time, all Jews began to wear a kippah, not only during prayer, but also in everyday life. By this they showed their service to God.

Even later, the Jewish sages issued a law according to which a Hasid was not allowed to walk four cubits (this is approximately 2.4 m) without a kippah. This custom gradually became very strong in many communities of this people.

The meaning of a kippah for a Jew

In translation from Hebrew, kippah means the word "top", "top". Hasidim believe that this headdress covers a person from above, thus being the highest point within the microcosm.

The Jewish kippah is a symbol of the religiosity of every person of this people. Also wearing it -it is a sign of observance of traditions and rituals. Coming of age celebrations and other holidays, prayer in the synagogue, eating food, mourning for the dead are an excuse for putting on a kippah. After all, a man has no right to come to all these events with his head uncovered.

The meaning of wearing a kippah is determined by the following explanation:

1. Jew realizes the existence of God.
2. The Jew realizes the wisdom of the Almighty.
3. He appreciates it above his head.

Kipa types

This Jewish headdress often helps to determine what religious population a person comes from:

• arbitrarily colored round knitted kippah is often worn by Zionists (especially in Israel), so they are called "kipot srugot" (translated as "knitted kippah");
• a black headdress of this type indicates that its owner is a believer and strictly observes all the commandments;
• People who wear a hat over a kippah are called "haredim" in Israel because they are the most religious (they don't take off their kippah even when they sleep).

There are also other types of the above dress:

• a white kippah with a small pom-pom is often worn by members of some we althy Hasidic courts, as they wish to hint at their affiliation with the study of Kabbalah;
• The six-sided headdress above is worn by supporters of the Chabad movement.

Kipa traditions

In modern Israel, it is believed that for largeon holidays, you must definitely go to the synagogue in a white headdress.

A person who wears a kippah recently usually adjusts it more comfortably on his head. For example, he does not wear it on the top of his head, as it should be, but keeps it on the back of his head.

Jews claim that if a kippah hangs from the hair or simply rests on a hairpin, then its owner is far from a believer. He put it on because of his official business and will definitely take it off at the first opportunity.

Some Hasidim believe that on mourning or Judgment Day it is necessary to wear a dark-colored kippah. A headdress of this color can be worn everyday. But on holidays on Saturdays, it is advisable to wear a white kippah.

Very often, some Hasidim wear fur hats on holidays. They believe that covering one's head with a kippah is not pious enough.

Kipah is a symbol of believing Jews who observe traditions and rituals.