[Avodah] Yarmulke: A Historic Cover-Up?

[Richard Wolpoe]

On 11/4/07, Yitzchok Levine <c> wrote:
>
>  From http://www.hakirah.org/Vol%204%20Rabinowitz.pdf
>
> The Gra disagreed with R. Yosef  Karo's ruling [that one must wear a head
> covering] and countered that one is *never* obligated to wear a head
> covering, even while  participating  in a religious event.
>
> See the URL above for more.
>
>
The story is told that once R. Yerucham  Gorelick took off his yarmulka and
continued to give a shiur in order to make a point.

I'm not clear on the particular point that he was making;  but knowing him I
suspect he was - kedarko bakodeh -  eshewing "hitzoniyos."

That said: We know the Talmud requires NOT changing the "Jewish way" of
strapping one's how straps [arkesa demisani].  So it is arguable that if
Jews by custom demonstrate their Jewishness by means of a head covering, it
would be problematic to NOT cover one's head under duress of a Gentile.

Temple Beth Israel [Reform] used to demand that people rmove all head
covering inside their sanctuary [at least until 1970's].  The sanctuary was
domed and the story goes that the dome was in lieu of a yarmulka. Such
Anti-Orthodox legislation is much less common today.  I wonder if they would
have asked Sikhs etc. to remove THIER head-coverings!

During the 1970's, a number of my frum colleagues in Data Processing were
given Rabbinical Dispensation to not wear a kippah whilst at work - except
perhaps to say a bracha. But, by the 1990's I would posit that since kippot
became relatively common, that heter was notquite so necessary, except
possibly in small, remote  communities.

Perhaps the bottom line ought to be:
No one should be forced to wear a yarmulka when the Halachah does not rquire
it [e.g. at work],OTOH No one should be forced  to NOT wear a Yarmulka

Kol Tuv / Best Regards,
RabbiRichWolpoe at Gmail.com
Please Visit:
http://nishmablog.blogspot.com/
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