Kippah / Yarmulka

[Nachshon]

I do wear a Kippah. I started wearing it after a discussion with a Conservative friend of mine. Of course, even the Orthodox don't consider it a mitzwa, but he pointed out that it's an identity thing. It's a way of letting the world know that I'm Jewish. That was my initial reason.
I studied some more, and I realised that, according to Keffa, we're all Qohanim, and the Qohanim are commanded to wear miters, to keep their heads covered at all times. So I actually limited the kind of kippah that I wear. Now I only wear ones that are made like a miter, to remind me of my priestly role. That kind of limits my options, but oh, well.
That's my reasoning.

Shalom,
Nachshon

[Pawn of Potential]

Isn't there some scripture that says the man of the house is to be her covering, be it her father or husband? I'm not exactly sure where it is but . . .

But you do see in various Jewish movies Fiddler on the roof and Yentl, the women do wear scarves on their head, not to the extent of a muslim hijab exactly but . . .she does cover the hair,

in fact I read somewhere that some orthodox Jewish women wear wigs so that only their husband could see "thier hair" because men found a woman's hair to be too alluring for them to think sinful thoughts and such . . .don't know where I read it . . .or maybe it was in a documentary I don't know . . .

[Nachshon]

Pawn, Orthodox women to cover their heads. In Israel, they usually use a scarf called a Tichel, but sometimes they use wigs, or other types of head coverings. It just depends on their particular rabbi.

[Pawn of Potential]

*nods* So I haven't been misinformed, then. What makes a Tichel different from any other scarf?

[Nachshon]

Not a whole lot. It's just an oblong scarf, usually with tassels hanging off, and they come in all different colours and fabrics. I think the main difference is what they were made for.

[Pawn of Potential]

Acknowledged.

[joshua]

Why the kippah? Wouldn't any hat do just as well?

I recently heard the explanation that we should cover our heads because we are a kingdom of priests. But that seems inconsistent. If that's the case, then we should walk around barefoot and we shouldn't go to funerals of friends or distant relatives. And maybe we should all wear white linen tunics. Weren't the headcoverings of the priests holy garments that were not to be worn outside of the temple anyway?

Someone mentioned that the kippah is a sign that you're a Jew. What if you're a messianic gentile, like me? Most of Judaism says that once a Jew believes in Jesus/Yeshua as Messiah, they are no longer a Jew. So wouldn't a religious Jew be offended by a believer in Yeshua HaMashiach who wears a kippah and tallit and claims to be a Jew?

Also, why is the kippah so similar to the headcoverings worn by Catholic priests and cardinals?

[Mark]

Hi Joshua,

Welcome to the forum!
The kippah is a special part of my daily worship. It is fairly safe to say that I am the only guy in Lebanon, Oregon who wears one on a daily basis. Yet, while some assume that this is just to be weird or to get noticed, it has become something for me of absolutely committing myself to something, to Someone, regardless of how others view or interpret my reasoning.

No one knows when the kippah became part of normal Jewish attire. Some believe that the practice goes back as far as the Babylonian captivity. Others suggest that it wasn't adopted until after the second century. In any case, it certainly pre-dates the Catholic Church. In fact, what you'll find is that everything that the Catholics practice is either Jewish in origin or anti-Jewish.

It is significant that the highest positions in Catholicism wear the covering, while in Judaism it is normal for the common worshipper. It is to declare that even the lowest Jew is a priest and king, of the royal family of Adonai. Donning the kippah, for me, is not necessarily a direct identification with the people of national Israel; but coming under the power and authority o fthe God of Israel (who is my God as well).

Paul invites us gentiles to be full participants in what he refers to as the "commonwealth of Israel" (Ephesians 2:12-13). If we read through Paul's writings, understanding them in the context of a Jewish author, we find that he consistently encourages the gentile believers to embrace the Jewishness of their faith in Messiah. In 2nd Thessalonians 2:15, he tells them to "hold fast to the traditions which you have been taught." He's telling gentiles to embrace traditional Judaism.

Most convincing for me is what he declares in Romans 2:

For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
(Romans 2:28-29 KJV)

We find the "kippah" in the Old Testament describing that covering of the Ark of the Covenant. The word "mercy-seat" when read in Hebrew, is the word "kipporah". It simply means covering; but if you understand anything about the Hebrew language, nothing ever means anything simply. The idea of kipporah is that of blessing and protection. The kippah cups the top of my head as does a father's hands when blessing his children. The traditional woven kippah is knit, beginning from the center and spreads out, as in my life is to begin in the center and work its way out in my life and into my community. It is not necessarily a powerful tool of reminding and persnal worship; but a precious one.

If you are worried about offending people, whether Jewish or Christian, this is not the place for you. Any association between Yeshua as Messiah and the instructions of is an offense to both Christains and Jews. We can't forget that Messiah said that we will be hated by all men for His name's sake (Matthew 10:22). Get used to it. Learn to stand your ground as committed to Adonai Elohim. He is the only one that we must be concerned about offending. Whether or not He tells you to don the kippah is between you and Him.

Blessings,

Mark