| By :
Mark Etinger
The Yarmulka: It is arguably the most identifiable Judaic Symbol (arguably second to the Magen David). It is worn presumably by Orthodox Jewish men their entire lives, and Conservative and Reform Jews will don them when practicing at a synagogue. The Talmud contains the origin of the Yarmulka, as the book of Jewish laws and ethics states "cover your head in order that the fear if heaven may be upon you." Rabbi Hunah ben Joshua has been quoted as saying, "the Divine Presence is always over my head," which he used as his explanation for wearing a head covering. However, not all members of the Jewish heritage believe the Kippah must be worn at all times. In fact, there are extraordinarily polarizing viewpoints on the issue. While the Shulchan Aruch, a book of Jewish law created by Rabbi Yosef Karo in the 16th century, states no Jewish man should walk more than four cubits without a head-covering, there were and are many historically admirable rabbis who choose not to wear Kippas. One of these well-known Rabbi's who disagreed with the commonly-supported belief that the Yarmulkah should be worn at all times was Rabbi Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman. Rabbi Elijah ben Shlomo Zalman is often referred to as "the Genius from Vilna," or more commonly, "the Gra." The Gra believed that a Jew is never actually required to wear a Kippot, or any other sort of head covering. He based this on, amongst other texts, Tosefta Megillah 3:17, which states "A poheah (someone without a head covering) can say the blessing on Shema." Another Rabbi who was known to be lenient on when a Jewish male should wear a head covering was Rabbi Yehuda Aryeh of Modena, who was the Bet Din of Venice. In his 1637 published work Historia de Riti Hebraici (History of Jewish Rites), the Rabbi is portrayed on the cover without any sort of head-covering. A unique perspective was written by Dr. Nathan Lopes Cardozo, who publically states a deep desire to be a practicing Jew who is "genuinely religious." The good Doctor believes that since he puts his Kippah on every day, it has lost its meaning. "Every morning when I get out of my bed and put it on, it then disappears into my subconscious," writes Dr. Cardozo. "It is always on my head and therefore never there… it just sits there, a meaningless object, having little to do with my attempt to be religious." Dr. Cardozo suggests the only solution to his feelings of Yarmulkah-worthlessness is to not wear it 24/7, "and only occasionally put it on." By doing this, the doctor suggests wearing his Kippah will once again become meaningful and special to him, helping him feel a stronger connection to God.
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