Kippah (Yarmulke) - Jewish Religious Garment By Ariela Pelaia Updated July 27, 2016. Kippah (pronounced kee-pah) is the Hebrew word for the skullcap traditionally worn by Jewish men. It is also called a yarmulke or koppel in Yiddish. Kippot (plural of kippah) are worn at the apex of a person's head. After the Star of David , they are probably one of the most recognizable symbols of Jewish identity. Who Wears Kippot and When? Traditionally only Jewish men wore kippot. However, in modern times some women also choose to wear kippot as an expression of their Jewish identity or as a form of religious expression. When a kippah is worn varies from person to person. In Orthodox circles Jewish men usually wear kippot all the time, whether they are attending a religious service or going about their daily lives outside of the synagogue. In Conservative communities men almost always wear kippot during religious services or during formal occasions, such as during a High Holiday dinner or when attending a Bar Mitzvah .

In Reform circles, it is equally common for men to wear kippot as it is for them not to wear kippot. Ultimately the decision about whether or not to wear a kippah comes down to personal choice and the customs of the community an individual belongs to. Religiously speaking, wearing kippot is not obligatory and there are many Jewish men who do not wear them at all. What Does a Kippah Look Like? Originally all kippot looked the same. They were small, black skullcaps worn at the apex of a man's head. However, nowadays kippot come in all sorts of colors and sizes. Visit your local Judaica shop or a market in Jerusalem and you will see everything from knitted kippot in all the colors of the rainbow to kippot sporting baseball team logos. Some kippot will be small skullcaps, others will cover the entire head, and yet others will resemble caps. When women wear kippot sometimes they select ones made of lace or that are adorned with feminine decorations. Both men and women usually attach kippot to their hair with bobby pins. Among those who wear kippot, it is not uncommon to have a collection of different styles, colors and sizes.

This variety allows the wearer to select whichever kippah suits their mood or their reason for wearing it. For instance, a black kippah might be worn to a funeral, while a colorful kippah might be worn to a holiday gathering. When a Jewish boy has a Bar Mitzvah or a Jewish girl has a Bat Mitzvah , oftentimes special kippot will be made for the occasion. Why Do Jews Wear Kippot? Wearing a kippah is not a religious commandment. Rather it is a Jewish custom that over time has come to be associated with Jewish identity and showing respect for God. In Orthodox and Conservative circles covering one’s head is seen as a sign of yirat Shamayim, which means "reverence for God" in Hebrew . This concept comes from the Talmud, where wearing a head covering is associated with showing respect for God and for men of higher social status. Some scholars also cite the Middle Age custom of covering one's head in the presence of royalty. Since God is the "King of Kings" it made sense to also cover one's head during prayer or religious services, when one hopes to approach the Divine through worship.

According to author Alfred Koltach, the earliest reference to a Jewish head covering comes from Exodus 28:4, where it is called mitzneft and refers to a part of the High Priest's wardrobe. Another biblical reference is II Samuel 15:30, where covering the head and face is a sign of mourning. Sources: "The Jewish Book of Why" by Alfred J. Koltach. Jonathan David Publishers, Inc. New York, 1981. Glossary of Hat Terms Glossary of Hat Terms Hat & Head size A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Search Tip: First click anywhere on the page below this line. If using I.E. Explorer go to, Edit Find (on This Page) Abacca: (Musa textilis) A plant grown in the Philippines that produces the fiber used in the production of sisal and sinamay. Abraham Lincoln: Abraham Lincoln�s hat was a silk stovepipe (top hat) which was made for him by George Hall of Springfield, Illinois. He wore it because of the President�s lack of interest in his appearance!

Ammana: Large wound turban worn by Muslim's. Bandeau : A headband of material, structured or unstructured. Baseball cap: Cloth cap with brim. Originally worn by baseball players ,now worn as a general leisure hat. Beaver: A expensive felt hat made from felted beaver fur. Bearskin: A large furry high crowned hat, which is part of a uniform worn by the Coldstream Guards Beret: Cap made from felt, felted jersey or fabric with soft, wide, circular crown. Best stuff: 19th century term for rabbit fur, including the backs and the best parts of the sides mixed together. Bicorne: Hat of the late 18th and early 19th century: wide brims were folded up to form two points. Biretta: Square cap worn by clergy the crown has three or four projections. Block: A wooden form used as a mould to shape, by hand a brim or crown. Blocking: Is the term used to describe the action of molding a hat shape. Boater: Flat-topped hat with small flat brim. traditionally, made of stiffened straw braid.

Bonnet: Women's or girl's head-dress, with deep brim and ribbons to tie under the chin. Bonnet rouge: Red cap worn during the French Revolution as a symbol of liberty. Bowler: Oval hat with round, rigid crown and a small, shaped, curved brim. Also known as a derby, because the style was made popular by the Earl of Derby in 19th century England. Breton: Women's hat with domed crown and brim turned-up all around. Bridal veil: White or ivory veil worn during wedding ceremony. Brim: Projecting edge of a hat. Buckram: Stiff netting used to make hats. May be blocked or sewn. Once used by milliners to make blocks for limited use. Bumping: Term used for the process of final felting of a hood, further compressing and felting of hoods done in a bumping machine. Calotte : A close-fitting skull cap as worn by the Roman Catholic Clergy. Canadian Mountie's Stetson: Official head-dress of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Canotier: Boater (French). Cap: A hat with a small brim at the front.

Capeline: Roughly shaped crown and brim of felt or straw, to be blocked into hat shape. Carroting: Preliminary treatment of wool or fur with acids, to curl the hairs. Produces a reddish-yellow colour which is the origin of the name. Catherinette: French term for milliners. Named after St Catherine the patron saint of milliners. The 27th of November is St Catherine's Day. Caul: Historical term for a a net or close-fitting indoor head-dress, or the plain back part of the same. Cavalier hat: A wide-brimmed, plumed hat worn by cavaliers in the 17th century: the right side of the brim was pinned up to the crown so that the wearer's sword arm could move freely above the shoulder. Chef's hat White, starched bonnet with tall crown . French tradition states that a chef�s hat should have 100 pleats to represent the number of different ways in which a great chef can prepare eggs. Chira: Indian Turban Cloche: Women's hat of the 1920's. Close-fitting round crown, with no brim or a small flare at the brim edge.

Coalman hat: A short visor cap with a protective flap at the back, derived from a hat worn by English coal deliverers to protect their backs from dust. Cockade: Ornamental rosette of ribbon or cloth, worn on a hat as a badge of office or as a decoration. Cocked hat: An old-fashioned three-cornered hat. Cocktail hat: A small, often frivolous, hat for women, usually worn forward on the head. Coif: Head-cover worn by nuns as part of their habit, often with long veils. Cone: Conically shaped hood of felt or straw used as a base for blocking small hat shapes or crowns. Coolie hat: A shallow conical straw hat with a large brim to protect wearer from the sun. Coronet: Small crown worn by members of nobility as a symbol of rank. Cowboy hat : ( see ten gallon ) Hat with high crown and wide brim, originally worn by cow hands. Usually made of felt or leather. Crown: Head-dress usually made of gold and worn as a symbol of sovereignty by monarchs. Also see Rastafarian Crown The top part of a hat.

Crush hat: A collapsible opera hat. Deer stalker : A hunting cap with visors at the front and back, and ear-flaps that can be tied up over the crown. Made famous by the fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes. Derby: Another name for a Bowler hat. Doff: The action of partially removing a hat by males as a sign of respect Diadem: A jeweled headband. Easter bonnet: Women's hat: A new spring style to be worn at Easter. English driving cap : Low-profile cap, originally only for men, with small brim at the front. Crown may be tailored with side panels, or gored. Esparterie: A flat sheet material used for the making of blocks and as a stiffening in the construction of hats. Feather head-dress : Ceremonial and symbolic head-cover worn by chiefs of North American Indian tribes. Fedora: A brimmed soft felt hat with a tapered crown that is dented lengthways. It comes originally from the Austrian Tyrol and is named after FEDORA a play by the French dramatist Victorien Sardou which was shown in Paris in 1882.

Felt: Cloth made from wool, fur or hair, compacted (felted) by rolling and pressing, in the presence of heat and moisture. Fez: Brimless, conical, flat-topped cap with a tassel attached at the top center. Men's head-cover, made of red felt, worn in Islamic cultures. Fillet: A band for the hair. Fish tail: Ribbon with a decorative v-shape cut at the end. Forage cap: Military cap with a small brim. Fulling: Tumbling and pounding of cloth in hot water to induce felting. Fur felt: Any hood or capeline of felt made from fur fibers. Gainsborough Hat: A high crowned big brimmed hat decorated with feathers and ribbons became popular in the 1780's Garbo hat: Slouch hat. (a soft, broad-brimmed hat) Gaucho hat: A black felt hat with a wide flat brim and shallow flat-topped crown. Gibus: Collapsible top hat.

[French, from the maker's name.] Glengarry: Highlander's cap of thick-milled woolen cloth, generally rising to a point in front, with ribbons hanging down behind Hat : Item of dress worn on the head, from a word of Saxon origin meaning hood. Helmet: Protective or ceremonial head-cover: for soldiers. Hennin: A high conical hat with a veil attached at the top, worn by women during the 15th century. Hijab: A covering for a Muslim woman's head and face, sometimes reaching the ground, often accompanied by the niqab (face veil). Homburg: A man's hat, made of felt, with a narrow upturned brim, and a depression in the top. First worn at Homburg, town in western Germany usually trimmed with a band and bow. Hood: Cone or capelin of felt or straw for making hats. Horsehair: Hair from a horse's mane or tail; a mass of such hairs; a fabric woven from horsehair. Jockey cap : Cloth cap with close-fitting 6-panel crown and wide brim at the front. Juliet Cap: A round close-fitting skullcap worn by women.

the style dates back to the Renaissance. Jute Hood: Cone, capeline or sheet materiel made of jute fiber. Kalpak : A triangular Turkish or Tatar felt cap. Kippa: Skull-cap worn by Jewish men. Also known as yarmulke. Kufie: Islamic (Muslim) prayer cap. Leuring lathe : Turntable with a block to support a felt hat. The hat is placed on the block and, as it turns, it is then polished or "leured" with a plush or velveteen pad, to impart a shine to the felt fibers, particularly on the crown. Liberty cap: Phrygian cap. Mad Hatter : Famous character of Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" also see Mercury below. Mercury Usage: Mercury Nitrate was used to soften the thicker and coarser fur (guard hair) from a rabbit or hare. This was to make the finished felt hood as soft and fine as possible, before it was made into a hat for the obvious reason that it would be of a higher quality and price.

Mercury Poisoning: Mercury is acutely hazardous as a vapor and in the form of its water-soluble salts, which corrode membranes of the body. Chronic mercury poisoning, which occurs when small amounts of the metal or its fat-soluble salts, particularly methyl mercury, are repeatedly ingested over long periods of time, causes loss of memory, irreversible brain, liver, and kidney damage. paralysis, mental derangement and eventually death. In the United States it was referred to as the Danbury shakes. Because of increasing water pollution, significant quantities of mercury have been found in some species of fish, which has aroused concern regarding uncontrolled discharge of the metal into the environment. See these sites for more information: Mandel: A turban woven with silk and gold. Milliner: Artisan who makes and sells hats. Millinery: The craft of making hats. Mitre: A high, pointed headdress, cleft crosswise on top and with two ribbons hanging from the back. The right to wear the mitre belongs by law only to the pope, the cardinals, and the bishops. Others require for its use a special papal privilege.

For a full description and history, click on this link: Mortarboard: Flat, square head-cover worn by professors and students for solemn academic occasions. Nap : Short fibers extending above the surface of cloth, fabric or felt, creating a soft, downy effect such as on velvet. Night cap: Men's cap worn informally indoors from the 16th to the 19th century. The cap had a deep crown made of four segments, with the edge turned up to form a close brim. Niqab: Face veil worn by Islamic women, together with the hijab (head-cover). Panama : The name given straw woven in Ecuador, as well as Peru and Colombia. Panama hat: Straw hat made with panama straw . Paper panama: Cone or capeline made of Japanese Toyo paper, woven to imitate natural Panama can be 1x1 or 2x2 weave. Parasisal: A two over two weave of sisal fiber used to make cones and capelines. Available in 5 grades, depending on the fineness of the fiber, it is lightweight, resilient and takes dye well. Peak: Visor.

Phrygian cap: Conical cap with the top bent forward, named for an ancient people of Asia Minor. Worn as a symbol during the French Revolution, it is now also known as the cap of liberty. Picture hat: A hat with a very wide brim. Pile: Nap. Pillbox: A small brimless cap with a flat tip and cylindrical side. Polo players in the Bois de Boulogne wore pillboxes tied under their chins in the early 1900�s. This hat became popular when Jackie Kennedy wore them. Clothes designer Halston reinvented the pillbox worn by Greta Garbo in the 1932 film As You Desire Me, especially for Mrs Kennedy. Pillboxes can be made in most types of fabric. Pith helmet: Helmet of cork or pith (dried spongy tissue from the sola plant), covered with cloth. Planking: Rolling and heating the hoods to complete the felting process. Plug Hat: See Top Hat Plush: (Hatters Plush) Cloth of silk or cotton, with a longer and softer nap than velvet.

Plush hats: Men's hat, usually Top Hats of plush, an imitation of napped beaver hats. Pom-pom: Pompon a fluffy or woolly ball, tuft, or tassel. Pompon: Pompon a fluffy or woolly ball, tuft, or tassel. Pouncing: Rubbing down the outside of felt hats with pumice stone, sand paper or emery paper to produce a very smooth surface. Puritan: Black felt hat with high conical crown and narrow straight brim, worn by the Puritans during the 17th century. It was usually trimmed with a buckle at the front. Raffia : A natural straw from Madagascar, the Raffia palm or its leaf-bast. available in cones, capelines, braids and hanks. Raising card: Small wired instrument to raise nap on felt. Rastafarian Hat : The Rastafarian hat is called a "Crown" and has religious significance, the knitted version is usually colored red, yellow and green, the colour of the Ethiopian flag.

Royal Ascot: The world famous English horse race meeting at Ascot, dating from the early 18th century, is particularly renowned for Ladies' Day, a unique occasion and setting to flaunt the most spectacular hats. Rush: Capeline made of a stiff thick straw, usually left its natural green colour. Shako : A tall, nearly cylindrical military cap with a plume, flat-topped. Sinamay: a plant grown in the Philippines the fibers are woven into sheet or hood forms. Sisal Comes from the fiber of the Abacca (Musa textilis) and is used to make cones, capelines and woven fabric. Sisal hood: Cone or capeline of sisal fiber made with a one over one weave. Skull-cap: Small, close-fitting cap of fabric. Skimmer: (see Boater) Slouch hat: A soft hat with a high crown and drooping flexible brim. Also called a Garbo hat, from the name of the actress who worn this style in many films. Smoking cap: Men's pillbox shape cap, worn during the 19th century to prevent the hair from smelling of tobacco.

Snap brim: A brim that turns down sparingly. Snood: A band for the hair, once worn by unmarried women in Scotland as the badge of virginity; an ornamental hairnet supporting the back of a woman's hair. Sombrero: Mexican hat with high, conical crown and very wide brim. Usually of straw or felt. Spartre: (see Esparterie ) St. Catherine of Alexandria: Patron saint of milliners in France, + c. 307 A.D., celebrated November 2th. St. Clement I: 3rd Bishop of Rome, + c. 100 A.D. Patron saint of hatters in England, celebrated November 23. By tradition, the discoverer of felt. Stiffening: Originally gum Arabic, mucilage, shellac or gelatin, now superseded by cellulose or pva based chemicals. It is applied by hand or dipped, to stiffen felt or straw. Stocking cap: Knitted cap, usually conical, often finished with a pompon. Stovepipe hat: A tall 19th century top hat , made popular by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.

Suede felt: Fur felt hood or capeline with short nap: surface texture resembles suede. Tam o'shanter : Beret with close-fitting headband, usually trimmed with a pompon. Ten-gallon hat : (see cowboy hat) A good description of this hat supplied courtesy of "The phrase "ten-gallon hat" is a bit of folksy humor which is often carried out through exaggeration. The 1880's saw the crowns of hats get taller and larger, but by the 1920's even those hats seemed smaller by comparison. The movies were coming in to great vogue in the 20's, and on-screen stars wanted to appear larger than life. As in most things, the rest of the people followed their lead to enormous hats. Hence the epithet "ten-gallon hat" to show its size could hold ten gallons of water. Like all folklore, no one knows who originated the phrase, but it stuck. The Stetson Company put out an advertising poster showing a cowboy watering his horse out of his hat. The phrase plays upon that, or the poster plays upon the phrase, I'm not sure which.

That would be easy to figure by dating the poster." Or the other explanation: Almost proverbial is the ten-gallon hat worn by Americans in the "Old West," particularly so in Texas. Its description is taken to refer to its enormous size, which would conform with all the other Texan superlatives. The implication, of course, is that the hat was so large that it could be filled with ten gallons of liquid. This is an error due to a linguistic "mix-up." In this case the gallon is not the unit of capacity, but the Spanish 'galon' for "braid." The hat is not Texan at all but stems from Mexico. When Spaniards occupied the country, they wore sombreros because the wide brims protected their faces from the burning sun. Spaniards' love of beauty made them embellish this utilitarian brim with braid. The more of it they used the happier they were. Some men thus wore a hat with ten different braids. Very accurately and without exaggeration, it was a 'ten galon hat'. When the Americans adopted the Spanish head covering, they acquired its Spanish name as well.

Continuing to call it a ten gal(l)on hat, the Spanish ('galon') braid was soon misunderstand and mistaken for the liquid measure. This created the ten-gallon hat. source"Websters World Encyclopedia 1999" Tip: The top part of the crown. Top hat : Man's tall cylindrical hat with a narrow brim, made of silk plush. Also see: Abraham Lincoln. Very early top hats were made of beaver felt. Also called a "Plug Hat" in the USA. Toque: French term for a chef's tall white hat. Toque: Small hat for a woman, close-fitting brimless or nearly brimless hat. Tricorne: Men's hat of the 18th century: wide brims were folded up to form three points. Trilby:The Trilby is a soft felt hat, usually made of fur felt (rabbit) it has a dented crown and flexible brim, the shape originates from the Austrian Tyrol it usually had a small feather trimming. The hat became most popular between the 1930s-40s when Schiaparelly used it to compliment clothes design.

The name come from the heroine of G.du Maurier's novel Trilby 1894 in which the heroine of the stage version, wore such a hat. Tuque: A Canadian cap made by tucking in one tapered end of a long cylindrical bag, closed at both ends. Turban: Typical head-dress for Muslim and Sikh men, constructed by winding a long scarf around the head. Turban: Women's head-dress resembling men's turbans. Vanities : 15th century British term for hats. Veil: A covering of fine fabric or net, for the head, face, or both, for protection, concealment, adornment or ceremonial purpose, especially the white transparent one often worn by a bride Velour felt: Fur felt hood or capeline with uniform nap and velvet-like surface texture. Visca: Cone or capeline of rayon fiber, made to look like parrasisal with a 1x1 or 2x2 weave. Visor: A partial brim, usually extending out at the front of a hat or cap. Also known as a peak used as a shade against the sun .

Wheat Straw single or double: A stiff coarse straw, usually left its natural golden brown colour. Single wheat is 1x1 weave double wheat is 2x2 weave. Widow's peak: A close-fitting cap with a point extending down at the center of the forehead. Originally worn as a mourning bonnet by Caterina de Medici. Also a point of hair over the forehead, like the cusped front of the widow's cap formerly worn. Willow: A woven and sized material made of esparto grass and cotton, used for making the base of fashion hats. Also known as esparterie and spartre. Wimple: A veil folded so as to cover the head and neck and closely frame the cheeks, a fashion of the Middle Ages that remained part of a nun's dress Xian : Capeline made of an oriental straw. Yarmulke : The skullcap worn by Jewish males, especially during prayers or ceremonial occasions. Also known as kippah. Zucchetto : Skull-cap worn by Roman Catholic clergy: black for priests, purple for bishops, red for cardinals, white for the pope.

BBC - Religions - Judaism: Kippah/Yarmulke Kippah/Yarmulke Last updated 2009-06-23 This article looks at the skullcap Orthodox Jewish men use to cover their heads. It is known in Hebrew as a kippah or in Yiddish as a yarmulke. On this page Man wearing a yarmulke © Clothing worn by Jews usually varies according to which denomination of Judaism they adhere to. Orthodox Jewish men always cover their heads by wearing a skullcap known in Hebrew as a kippah or in Yiddish as a yarmulke. Liberal or Reform Jews see the covering of the head as optional. Most Jews will cover their heads when praying, attending the synagogue or at a religious event or festival. Wearing a skullcap is seen as a sign of devoutness. Women also cover their heads by wearing a scarf or a hat. The most common reason (for covering the head) is a sign of respect and fear of God. It is also felt that this separates God and human, by wearing a hat you are recognising that God is above all mankind.

Different designs of yarmulke © History There is disagreement over whether the covering of one's head is a Torah commandment. However there is some evidence in the Talmud (Jewish teachings) that some form of head covering is required. One should not walk bare-headed (the distance of) four cubits Shulchan Aruch, Oracn Chayim, chapter 2 Pride and identity Many Jews feel that by wearing a skullcap they are proudly announcing to the world that they are Jewish. This is classed as an 'outward sign' of their faith. It has also become custom to wear kippahs or yarmulkes of certain colours, sizes and materials as a sign of allegiance to a certain group.

Judaism 101: Signs and Symbols Signs and Symbols  Mezuzah, tzitzit and tefillin are reminders of the commandments  The menorah (candelabrum) is the ancient universal symbol of Judaism  The Jewish star (Magen David) is a modern universal Jewish symbol  Jews wear a skullcap (yarmulke) as a pious custom  Chai, found on jewelry, is the number 18, which is a favorable number  The Hamesh Hand is common in Jewish jewelry, but its connection to Judaism is questionable Mezuzah And you shall write [the words that I command you today] on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. -Deuteronomy 6:9, 11:19 On the doorposts of traditional Jewish homes (and many not-so-traditional homes!), you will find a small case like the one pictured at left. This case is commonly known as a mezuzah (Heb.: doorpost), because it is placed upon the doorposts of the house.

The mezuzah is not, as some suppose, a good-luck charm, nor does it have any connection with the lamb's blood placed on the doorposts in Egypt. Rather, it is a constant reminder of G-d 's presence and G-d's mitzvot . The mitzvah to place mezuzot on the doorposts of our houses is derived from Deut. 6:4-9, a passage commonly known as the Shema (Heb: Hear, from the first word of the passage). In that passage, G-d commands us to keep His words constantly in our minds and in our hearts by (among other things) writing them on the doorposts of our house. The words of the Shema are written on a tiny scroll of parchment, along with the words of a companion passage, Deut. 11:13-21. On the back of the scroll, a name of G-d is written. The scroll is then rolled up and placed in the case, so that the first letter of the Name (the letter Shin ) is visible (or, more commonly, the letter Shin is written on the outside of the case).

The scroll must be handwritten in a special style of writing and must be placed in the case to fulfill the mitzvah. It is commonplace for gift shops to sell cases without scrolls, or with mechanically printed scrolls, because a proper scroll costs more than even an elaborately decorated case ($30-$50 for a valid scroll is quite reasonable). According to traditional authorities, mechanically printed scrolls do not fulfill the mitzvah of the mezuzah, nor does an empty case. The case and scroll are then nailed or affixed at an angle to the right side doorpost as you enter the building or room, with a small ceremony called Chanukkat Ha-Bayit (dedication of the house - yes, this is the same word as Chanukkah , the holiday celebrating the rededication of the Temple). A brief blessing is recited. See the text of the blessing at Affixing the Mezuzah . Why is the mezuzah affixed at an angle? The rabbis could not decide whether it should be placed horizontally or vertically, so they compromised!

Every time you pass through a door with a mezuzah on it, you touch the mezuzah and then kiss the fingers that touched it, expressing love and respect for G-d and his mitzvot and reminding yourself of the mitzvot contained within them. It is proper to remove a mezuzah when you move, and in fact, it is usually recommended. If you leave it in place, the subsequent owner may treat it with disrespect, and this is a grave sin. I have seen many mezuzot in apartment complexes that have been painted over because a subsequent owner failed to remove it while the building was painted, and it breaks my heart every time I see that sort of disrespect to an object of religious significance. For more information about mezuzot or to purchase valid scrolls for a mezuzah online, visit the S.T.A.M. website. Tzitzit and Tallit They shall make themselves tzitzit on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and they shall place on the tzitzit of each corner a thread of techeilet.

And it shall be tzitzit for you, and you will see it, and you will remember all the mitzvot of the L-RD and do them and not follow your heart or your eyes and run after them. -Numbers 15:38-40 The Torah commands us to wear tzitzit (fringes) at the corners of our garments as a reminder of the mitzvot , kind of like the old technique of tying a string around your finger to remember something. The passage also instructs that the fringe should have a thread of "techeilet," believed to be a blue or turquoise dye, but the source of that dye is no longer known, so tzitzit are today are all white. There is a complex procedure for tying the knots of the tzitzit, filled with religious and numerological significance. The mitzvah to wear tzitzit applies only to four-cornered garments, which were common in biblical times but are not common anymore. To fulfill this mitzvah, adult men wear a four-cornered shawl called a tallit (pictured above) during morning services , along with the tefillin .

In some Orthodox congregations , only married men wear a tallit; in others, both married and unmarried men wear one. In Conservative , Reform and Reconstructionist synagogues, both men and women may wear a tallit, but men are somewhat more likely than women to do so. A blessing is recited when you put on the tallit. See the text of the blessing at Tallit and Tefillin . Strictly observant Jewish men commonly wear a special four-cornered garment, similar to a poncho, called a tallit katan ("little tallit"), so that they will have the opportunity to fulfill this important mitzvah all day long. The tallit katan is worn under the shirt, with the tzitzit hanging out so they can be seen. If you've ever seen a Jewish man with strings hanging out of his clothing, this is probably what you were seeing. There is no particular religious significance to the tallit (shawl) itself, other than the fact that it holds the tzitzit (fringes) on its corners. There are also very few religious requirements with regard to the design of the tallit.

The tallit must be long enough to be worn over the shoulders (as a shawl), not just around the neck (as a scarf), to fulfill the requirement that the tzitzit be on a "garment." Likewise, it should be draped over the shoulders like a shawl, not worn around the neck like a scarf, though that is commonly done (see illustration at right). A longer tallit is commonly folded over the shoulders, to prevent the tzitzit from dragging on the ground. The tallit may be made of any material, but must not be made of a combination of wool and linen, because that combination is forbidden on any clothing. (Lev. 19:19; Deut. 22:11). Most tallitot are white with navy or black stripes along the shorter ends, possibly in memory of the thread of techeilet. They also commonly have an artistic motif of some kind along the top long end (the outside of the part that goes against your neck). This motif is referred to as an atarah (crown). There is no particular religious significance to the atarah; it simply tells you which end is up!

It is quite common, however, to write the words of the blessing for putting on the tallit on the atarah, so you can read the blessing while you are putting the tallit on. If a blessing is written on your tallit, you should be careful not to bring the tallit into the bathroom with you! Sacred writings should not be brought into the bathroom. For this reason, many synagogues have a tallit rack outside of the bathroom. Conversely, if you see a room in a synagogue with a sign that tells you to remove your tallit before entering, you can safely assume that the room is a bathroom! Tefillin Bind [the words that I command you today] as a sign on your arm, and they shall be ornaments between your eyes. -Deuteronomy 6:8 The Shema also commands us to bind the words to our hands and between our eyes. We do this by "laying tefillin," that is, by binding to our arms and foreheads leather pouches containing scrolls of Torah passages. The word "tefillin" is usually translated "phylacteries," although I don't much care for that term.

"Phylacteries" isn't very enlightening if you don't already know what tefillin are, and the word "phylacteries" means "amulet," suggesting that tefillin are some kind of protective charm, which they are not. The word "tefillin," on the other hand, is etymologically related to the word "tefilah" (prayer) and the root Pe-Lamed-Lamed (judgment). Like the mezuzah , tefillin are meant to remind us of G-d 's mitzvot . We bind them to our head and our arm, committing both our intellect and our physical strength to the fulfillment of the mitzvot. At weekday morning services , one case is tied to the arm, with the scrolls at the biceps and leather straps extending down the arm to the hand, then another case is tied to the head, with the case on the forehead and the straps hanging down over the shoulders. Appropriate blessings are recited during this process. The tefillin are removed at the conclusion of the morning services. See a general outline of this process and its blessings at Tallit and Tefillin .

Jewish acupuncturist Steven Schram examined the positioning of the tefillin and the procedure for laying them, and concluded that the laying of tefillin was "a unique way of stimulating a very precise set of acupuncture points that appears designed to clear the mind and harmonise the spirit." Click here to see his article from the Journal of Chinese Medicine. Like the scrolls in a mezuzah, the scrolls in tefillin must be hand-written in a special style of writing . A good, valid set of tefillin can cost a few hundred dollars, but if properly cared for they can last for a lifetime. For more information about tefillin or to purchase valid tefillin online, visit the S.T.A.M. website. Menorah One of the oldest symbols of the Jewish faith is the menorah, a seven-branched candelabrum used in the Temple . The kohanim lit the menorah in the Sanctuary every evening and cleaned it out every morning, replacing the wicks and putting fresh olive oil into the cups. The illustration at left is based on instructions for construction of the menorah found in Ex. 25:31-40.

It has been said that the menorah is a symbol of the nation of Israel and our mission to be "a light unto the nations." (Isaiah 42:6). The sages emphasize that light is not a violent force; Israel is to accomplish its mission by setting an example, not by using force. This idea is highlighted in the vision in Zechariah 4:1-6. Zechariah sees a menorah, and G-d explains: "Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit." The lamp stand in today's synagogues, called the ner tamid (lit. the continual light, usually translated as the eternal flame), symbolizes the menorah. Many synagogues also have an ornamental menorah, usually with some critical detail changed (for example, with only 6 candles) to avoid the sin of reproducing objects of the Temple. The nine-branched menorah used on Chanukkah is commonly patterned after this menorah, because Chanukkah commemorates the miracle that a day's worth of oil for this menorah lasted eight days. Yarmulke Cover your head so that the fear of heaven may be upon you.

-Talmud Shabbat 156b R. Huna son of R. Joshua would not walk four cubits bareheaded, saying: The Shechinah [Divine Presence] is above my head. -Talmud Kiddushin 31a R. Huna son of R. Joshua said: May I be rewarded for never walking four cubits bareheaded. -Talmud Shabbat 118b The most commonly known and recognized piece of Jewish garb is actually the one with the least religious significance. The word yarmulke (usually, but not really correctly, pronounced yammica) is Yiddish . According to Leo Rosten's The Joys of Yiddish, it comes from a Tartar word meaning skullcap. According to some Orthodox and Chasidic rabbis I know, it comes from the Aramaic words "yerai malka" (fear of or respect for The King). The Hebrew word for this head covering is kippah (pronounced key-pah). It is an ancient practice for Jews to cover their heads during prayer.

This probably derives from the fact that in Eastern cultures, it is a sign of respect to cover the head (the custom in Western cultures is the opposite: it is a sign of respect to remove one's hat). Thus, by covering the head during prayer, one showed respect for G-d . In addition, in ancient Rome, servants were required to cover their heads while free men did not; thus, Jews covered their heads to show that they were servants of G-d. In medieval times, Jews covered their heads as a reminder that G-d is always above them. Whatever the reason given, however, covering the head has always been regarded more as a custom rather than a commandment . Although it is a common pious practice to cover the head at all times, it is not religiously mandatory. For example, it is widely accepted that one may refrain from wearing a head covering at work if your employer requires it (for reasons of safety, uniformity, or to reduce distractions). You can take off your yarmulke for a job interview if you think it will hurt your chances of getting the job. There is an amusing article about this dilemma, The Kippah Debate , at Aish.com .

There is no special significance to the yarmulke as a specific type of head covering. Its light weight, compactness and discreteness make it a convenient choice of head gear. I am unaware of any connection between the yarmulke and the similar skullcap worn by the Pope. Magen David The Magen David (Shield of David, or as it is more commonly known, the Star of David) is the symbol most commonly associated with Judaism today, but it is actually a relatively new Jewish symbol. It is supposed to represent the shape of King David's shield (or perhaps the emblem on it), but there is really no support for that claim in any early rabbinic literature. The symbol is not mentioned in rabbinic literature until the middle ages, and is so rare in early Jewish literature and artwork that art dealers suspect forgery if they find the symbol in early Jewish works. Scholars such as Franz Rosenzweig have attributed deep theological significance to the symbol. For example, some note that the top triangle strives upward, toward G-d, while the lower triangle strives downward, toward the real world. Some note that the intertwining makes the triangles inseparable, like the Jewish people .

Some say that the three sides represent the three types of Jews: Kohanim , Levites and Israel. Some note that there are actually 12 sides (3 exterior and 3 interior on each triangle), representing the 12 tribes. While these theories are theologically interesting, they have little basis in historical fact. The symbol of intertwined equilateral triangles is a common one in the Middle East and North Africa, and is thought to bring good luck. It appears occasionally in early Jewish artwork, but never as an exclusively Jewish symbol. The nearest thing to an "official" Jewish symbol at the time was the menorah . In the middle ages, Jews often were required to wear badges to identify themselves as Jews, much as they were in Nazi Germany, but these Jewish badges were not always the familiar Magen David. For example, a fifteenth century painting by Nuno Goncalves features a rabbi wearing a six-pointed badge that looks more or less like an asterisk.

In the 17th century, it became a popular practice to put Magen Davids on the outside of synagogues , to identify them as Jewish houses of worship in much the same way that a cross identified a Christian house of worship; however, I have never seen any explanation of why this symbol was chosen, rather than some other symbol. The Magen David gained popularity as a symbol of Judaism when it was adopted as the emblem of the Zionist movement in 1897, but the symbol continued to be controversial for many years afterward. When the modern state of Israel was founded, there was much debate over whether this symbol should be used on the flag. Today, the Magen David is the universally recognized symbol of Jewry. It appears on the flag of the state of Israel, and the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross is known as the Red Magen David. Chai This symbol, commonly seen on necklaces and other jewelry and ornaments, is simply the Hebrew word Chai (living), with the two Hebrew letters Cheit and Yod attached to each other. Some say it refers to the Living G-d ; others say it simply reflects Judaism's focus on the importance of life.

Whatever the reason, the concept of chai is important in Jewish culture. The typical Jewish toast is l'chayim (to life). Gifts to charity are routinely given in multiples of 18 (the numeric value of the word Chai). Hamesh Hand The hamesh hand or hamsa hand is a popular motif in Jewish jewelry. Go into any Judaic gift shop and you will find necklaces and bracelets bearing this inverted hand with thumb and pinky pointing outward. The design commonly has an eye in the center of the hand or various Hebrew letters in the middle. There is nothing exclusively Jewish about the hamesh hand. Arab cultures often refer to it as the Hand of Fatima, which represents the Hand of G-d. Similar designs are common in many cultures. Why it has become such a popular symbol among Jews? I haven't been able to find an adequate explanation anywhere. My best guess: in many cultures, this hand pattern represents a protection against the evil eye (a malignant spiritual influence caused by the jealousy of others), and the evil eye has historically been a popular superstition among Jews. For some lovely illustrations of Jewish variations on this design, see here .

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Question: The headwear item ‘yamulke’ is better known by what name?
Answer: Skull cap