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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 time, 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.
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, the natural
thing for me seemed to be to wear the kippah whenever I wear my
tallit. I found that I like the light feel of the kippah on my head
and began wearing on 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 made me a wire and
beaded 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 and 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 --
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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.
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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.
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When I needed a name for my new
"cottage" industry, I remembered singing Debbie Friedman's version
of this piece of liturgy over and over again 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 hand so gently upon my
head .
I hope you enjoy wearing your
kippah, as much as I have enjoyed developing them and making them.
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