# why a yarmulka/skullcap not a hat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 19, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-yarmulka-skullcap-not-a-hat/220071 "2003-12-19T23:38:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-yarmulka-skullcap-not-a-hat/220071/1 "2003-12-19T23:38:35Z")
OK, dudes are supposed to have your head covered in a Synagog. Fair dinkum. But why a _yarmulka_ or a scullcap instead of a fedora or even a Stetson?😕 ---
**Author:** ![Splanky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b2d939/32.png) [@Splanky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Splanky)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2003, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-yarmulka-skullcap-not-a-hat/220071/2 "2003-12-19T23:46:31Z")
Probably because hats are more distracting. I have seen people opt for a hat instead, though. Also, women tend to wear hats if any head covering while in synogague. (I suppose this is purely for fashion purposes; those little pieces of cloth and yarmulkes are less attractive than a nice hat. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-yarmulka-skullcap-not-a-hat/220071/3 "2003-12-20T00:40:18Z")
So would a nice fedora be proper? ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-yarmulka-skullcap-not-a-hat/220071/4 "2003-12-20T01:00:21Z")
Any hat would be fine. You can think of a yarmulka as the minimum requirement. A ballcap would be “legal” but most people would find it inappropriate. Haj ---
**Author:** ![filmyak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@filmyak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmyak)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-yarmulka-skullcap-not-a-hat/220071/5 "2003-12-20T01:00:31Z")
Jewish males are actually required to cover their heads at all times, not just in a synagogue. And hats are perfectly acceptable and are sometimes used, but skullcaps are much smaller and easier to wear inside (and aren’t as hot). Non religious Jews sometimes skip this law, but wear them out of tradition while at a religious service. ---
**Author:** ![CheekyMonkey613](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e480ec/32.png) [@CheekyMonkey613](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheekyMonkey613)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-yarmulka-skullcap-not-a-hat/220071/6 "2003-12-20T01:18:00Z")
From [Aish](http://www.aish.com/literacy/mitzvahs/Kippah_A_Blessing_On_Your_Head.asp) _by Rabbi Shraga Simmons_ ;j > [@](#): > > … In the Western world, it is customary to remove one’s head covering when meeting an important person. In Judaism, putting on a head covering is a sign of respect… From a biblical standpoint, only the Kohanim serving in the Temple were required to cover their heads (see Exodus 28:4). Yet for many centuries, the obligatory custom has been for Jewish men to wear a kippah all the time, as the Code of Jewish Law says, “It is forbidden to walk four cubits without a head covering.” Certainly, a head covering is obligatory while engaged prayer and Torah study. **What kind of head covering qualifies? Basically anything – including a baseball cap or a scarf tied around one’s head. Of course, in the synagogue, it is more respectful to use a regular kippah.** ---
**Author:** ![CheekyMonkey613](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e480ec/32.png) [@CheekyMonkey613](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CheekyMonkey613)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-yarmulka-skullcap-not-a-hat/220071/7 "2003-12-20T01:37:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Splanky \* > \*\*Also, women tend to wear hats if any head covering while in synogague. (I suppose this is purely for fashion purposes; those little pieces of cloth and yarmulkes are less attractive than a nice hat. \*\* From [Ahavat-Israel](http://www.ahavat-israel.com/ahavat/torat/kisui.asp) > [@](#): > > Women: Hair Covering > Kisui HaRosh - Sheitel - Wig - Kerchief > Women who are or have been married (widows and divorcees) are required to cover their hair. A woman who has never been married does not have to. > It is an explicit law (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim, Ch. 75) - and not only a custom - of the Torah that a married woman is to cover her **hair** , Kisui HaRosh… From [Sichos](http://www.sichosinenglish.org/books/beautiful-within/21.htm) > [@](#): > > The general idea of wearing a sheitel and not sufficing with a hat or kerchief is explained in many places. We verily observe that wearing a hat or even a kerchief leaves part of the hair uncovered, at least for a short while, i.e., causing one to transgress a major prohibition, as explained in Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim ch. 75. ---
**Author:** ![stockton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5a626/32.png) [@stockton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stockton)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-yarmulka-skullcap-not-a-hat/220071/8 "2003-12-20T04:30:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by filmyak \* > \*\* > Non religious Jews sometimes skip this law, but wear them out of tradition while at a religious service. \*\* In addition: Non-Jews may wear them as a sign of respect and understanding if they’re at a Jewish wedding or funeral. You don’t have to talk the talk, but it’s appreciated if you walk the walk. I include among my prized possesions the few yarmulkes from my friends’ weddings. If you’re going in, grab a beanie. It’s the respectful thing to do. One of our Jewish pals stood up at our wedding in an Episcopal church and presented the bible reading. We gave him the Old-Testament one. 😉 We asked the priest beforehand if that was ok (kosher?), and he had no complaints. Said something like “my boss was a Jew, I don’t suppose he’d mind.” ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2003, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-yarmulka-skullcap-not-a-hat/220071/9 "2003-12-20T07:10:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hajario \* > \*\*A ballcap would be “legal” but most people would find it inappropriate. \*\* For some reason, I broke out laughing when I read that, thinking about a service where those in synogague are wearing baseball caps and trucker’s hats. [Oy gevalt …](http://store.yahoo.com/hammer-couture/knitcaps.html) [Oy vey is mir …](http://store.yahoo.com/hammer-couture/baseballcaps.html) ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2003, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-a-yarmulka-skullcap-not-a-hat/220071/10 "2003-12-21T00:44:27Z")
I’ve seen people with all sorts of hats and caps in shul. Zev Steinhardt