Head, covering of
Head, covering of. In Judaism, the custom of men covering their heads as a sign of humility before God, and of married women covering their heads as a sign of modesty before men, practised throughout the Orthodox Jewish community. Today, Orthodox men wear at least a skull cap (Heb., kippah; Yid., yarmulke) at all times; Conservative Jews cover their heads for prayer; and it remains a matter of choice for Reform Jews. The increasingly common practice of gentiles wearing a head-covering in Jewish company (especially on e.g. official visits) somewhat confuses the matter, since head-covering seems to have begun as a deliberate contrast to gentile practices (see YARMULKE), but it is presumably a matter of courtesy.
In biblical times, women kept their hair hidden (see Numbers 5.18). Since the early 19th cent., some married women followed the custom by wearing a wig (Yid., shaytl), although this was opposed in some circles. Today, only strictly Orthodox women keep their heads covered at all time.
In biblical times, women kept their hair hidden (see Numbers 5.18). Since the early 19th cent., some married women followed the custom by wearing a wig (Yid., shaytl), although this was opposed in some circles. Today, only strictly Orthodox women keep their heads covered at all time.
More From encyclopedia.com
You Might Also Like
NEARBY TERMS
Head, covering of