Why "Byado" Kippot?

I first began to wear a kippah for worship when I bought a tallit -- I read that it was customary to cover ones head when saying the blessing for the tallit so the natural thing for me seemed to be to wear the kippah whenever I wear my tallit. I found that I like the feel of a kippah on my head and began wearing one regularly for services and whenever I am in a Jewish setting.

Knowing that I had admired some beaded kippot that I had seen, a dear friend (thanks Fran) made me a wire and bead kippah! I was so thrilled and after realizing how wonderful it felt on my head -- decided to try to make another one! After much trial and error -- I developed a technique -- and my kippah making became a hobby. When friends at Temple commented on mine, I offered to make them one! And eventually. someone asked me to make several for their own small business--- and about a year later I launched this web site with my very own domain name.

Byado is the first word of the last verse of Adon Olam --

	Into Your hands I entrust my spirit, when I sleep and when I wake; my body also: You are with me, I shall not fear.
B'ya-doh af-kid ru-chi, b'eit i-shan v'a-i-ra, V'im ru-chi g'vi-ya-ti, a-do-nai li, v'lo i-ra.

When I needed a name for my new "cottage" industry, I remembered singing Debbie Friedman's arrangement of the last verse of Adon Olan over and over again at a retreat on Jewish healing at Elat Chayyim during the summer of 2000. The tune resonated with me and often brought tears to my eyes -- at the time I did not know the translation -- when I came home and looked for the translation -- I was touched by the meaning -- the idea that we place ourselves in God's hands. And when I wear my kippah, I imagine it as God's hands placed gently upon my head .

I am an "at home" business and make all the kippot myself! It makes me smile to think about all the simchas that have a bit of an extra sparkle as the lights reflect off the beads of hte kippot. I am particularly grateful to my repeat customers and I feel honored to be an ongoing part of thier family.

I hope you enjoy wearing your kippah, as much as I have enjoyed developing them and making them.

Why Kippot?

The kippah (kippot, plural; yarmulke, Yiddish) is a head covering worn traditionally as a sign of respect to God. Throughout Jewish history the attitude toward covering the head has varied. Drawings from the third century C.E. depict Jews without hats. During the Middle Ages, many Jews wore hats only during prayer and study. Gradually for some it became a custom to cover one's heads at all times. Within the Talmud there are opposing attitude about the issue of covering one's head.

In modern times, covering the head became a matter of debate between those who considered it obligatory and those who were either opposed to it or who considered it optional even during prayer services. The use of a kippah instead of a hat is of post Talmudic origin. Some Jews wear a kippah all the time, for worship, study and/or eating.

The decision to wear a kippah, especially for liberal Jews, is a very personal one. Although originally it was only men who wore a kippah, now many women choose to wear one also.