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Ask the Rabbi: Jewish Head Coverings

Written by Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Romain Monday, 19 July 2010

Rabbi Dr. Jonathan Romain of Maidenhead Synagogue addresses your questions. This week's question:Why do Jews cover their heads in synagogue?

It is one of those little known facts that covering one’s head was not originally part of Judaism. That is why we say a blessing – 'Blessed are you, God, Sovereign of the Universe, who commands us to...' - before so many rituals acts, be it lighting Shabbat candles or putting on a tallit, yet there is no blessing before putting on a kippah (also known as kappel or yarmulke). It was a tradition that developed in stages, first with only the person leading prayers covering his head, then with all those at prayer covering their heads, and now some Jews covering their heads at all times. The original reason for it was as a mark of office (as prayer leader), but over time it became a ritual of prayer for all concerned. It then turned into an unofficial badge of Jewishness, while some also see it as a reminder that one is always in the presence of God. Of course, a theme that applies to all aspects of Jewish life is that what is key is sincerity, not rituals, and so if one does not have a head-covering for whatever reason, one can pray just as validly without a head-covering.

It is noticeable that the type of head-covering Jews have worn over the centuries have varied enormously and has often reflected contemporary non-Jewish fashions. Thus Maimonides and other Jews in Arab lands often had a head-covering that resembled a turban, while East European Jews wore fur hats (streimels), Victorian Jews donned top hats and those in the 1950s wore bowlers hats. In Reform synagogues, where women are considered as religiously equal as men, there is no reason why they cannot wear a head-covering too and a gradually increasing number choose to do so. This is distinct from the custom in Orthodox shuls, where women are supposed to cover their heads if they are married, which is intended as a sign of modesty. Reform, however, does not subscribe to the idea of head-covering being a status symbol, and sees it instead as a matter of personal religious expression.