Kippah

Kippah (Hebrew: כיפה) means dome or covering, naming the small head covering worn by many Jewish men (and increasingly by women in egalitarian traditions) as a sign of reverence and identity[1]. The Yiddish equivalent is yarmulke, of debated etymology (possibly from a phrase meaning fear of the King, that is, awe of God). Both terms refer to the same garment.

practice varies widely by movement, place, and level of observance.

Wearing a kippah is a recognized Jewish religious practice expressing awareness of God's presence. The custom is not commanded directly in the Torah but developed through rabbinic tradition. The practice indicates that the wearer recognizes a higher reality above them; the covered head expresses humility before God.

Observance varies significantly across Jewish movements. Orthodox Jews typically wear a kippah at all times, or at least during prayer and Torah study. Conservative Jews often wear a kippah during prayer and Jewish ritual occasions, sometimes throughout the day. Reform Jews historically often did not wear a kippah but increasingly do; contemporary Reform practice varies widely. Hasidic Jews wear distinctive larger kippot, often under a fur hat (shtreimel) on Shabbat and festivals.

Kippot themselves vary in style: small or large, knit or velvet or leather, plain or decorated with patterns and symbols. Specific styles often signal community affiliation. Modern Orthodox knit kippot, Hasidic larger black velvet kippot, the kippa srugah (knit kippa) associated with religious Zionism, and various other styles communicate identity within Jewish community.

The question of women wearing kippot has been a major topic in egalitarian Jewish practice. Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist movements increasingly include women wearing kippot. Orthodox practice generally maintains the kippa as male attire while women observe head covering through other means (snoods, hats, wigs) particularly for married women in some communities.

The kippa has also become a visible marker of Jewish identity in public settings. Wearing a kippa publicly can express both religious commitment and Jewish identity, with the visibility itself sometimes being a topic of choice and discussion in pluralistic settings[2].

Jewish studies has examined the kippa as both religious observance and identity marker[2]. Sociological work on contemporary Jewish practice, historical work on the development of head covering customs, and specific studies of community-distinctive styles have all developed.

• Essential Judaismby George Robinson
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• The Jewish Holidaysby Michael Strassfeld
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