Kippah: Difference between revisions

# One shouldn’t walk (or travel)<ref> Taz 2:5 writes that traveling is the same as walking in this regard. Malbim in Artzot Hachaim (6, Meir LeAretz 48) and Halacha Brurah 2:11 concur. </ref> 4 [[amot]] without a Kippah. Nowadays, the Kippah serves as an identification of religious Jews and so it’s important to wear it in order to show that one fears Heaven. <ref>  

* The Gemara Kedushin 31a records Rabbi Yehoshua’s practice not to walk 4 [[amot]] without a head covering so that he would be reminded of Shechina that’s above him. [[Shabbat]] 156b writes that Rav Nachman’s mother was careful that her son always wore a head covering so that he is always cognizant of the fear of Heaven.  

* S”A 2:6 writes "It’s forbidden to walk with an arrogant posture and one shouldn’t walk 4 [[amot]] without a head covering". The language of S"A implies that wearing a Kippah is only a Midat Chasidut. See also Bet Yosef (Siman 8, 46, and 91). Many poskim agree that it is only a Midat Chasidut including the Darkei Moshe (2:3 and 8:4), Maharshal 72, Birkei Yosef 2:2, Magan Avraham 91:3, Buir HaGra 8:6, and Maamer Mordechai (2 and 91:5).  

# It is a proper and praiseworthy practice to wear a Kippah even when one walks less than 4 [[amot]] <ref> Sh”t Mahari MeBruna 34 permits if one walks less than 4 [[amot]]. However the Bach 2 implies from Rambam (Deot 5:6; More Nevuchim 3:52) that less than 4 [[amot]] is also forbidden. Taz 8:3, Bchor Shor ([[Shabbat]] 118b), and Birkei Yosef 2:3 concur. Magan Avraham 2:6 writes that it’s only a Midat Chasidut to wear it for walking less than 4 [[amot]]. </ref> or one stands or sits for the time it takes to walk 4 [[amot]] <ref> Sh”T Mahari MeBruna 34 permits if one is just sitting and Magan Avraham 282:8 permits whether one is sitting or standing. Bechor Shor ([[Shabbat]] 118b), Birkei Yosef 2:3, Halacha Brurah 2:11 are strict as long as one waits the time it takes to walk 4 [[amot]]. </ref>, whether one is outside or indoors. <ref> Sh”t Maharshal 72 permits one not to wear a Kippah indoors. Knesset Hagedolah 2, Bear Heteiv 2:5, and Olat Tamid 2:5 quote the Maharshal. However, the Bach 2 argues on this distinction. Eliyah Rabba 2:4, Mishna Brurah 2:10, and Halacha Brurah 2:11 concur. </ref>

# One is allowed to think about Torah even if he's not wearing a Kippah (such as if he’s in bed or by a pool). <ref> Sh”t Yabia Omer 6:15(7), Sherit Yosef 2 pg 370 </ref>

# There is a pious practice to wear a Kippah to sleep and if it’s falls off when one is sleeping, one doesn’t have to be concerned with it. <Ref> Sh”t Otzrot Yosef 1:5 say that since the Rosh (on [[Brachot]] 60b), Rambam (Tefilah 7:4), and S”A 4 hold that the order of the [[Brachot]] is precise and Oter [[Israel]] BeTifarah is made for having a head covering, implying that the other [[Brachot]] can be made without a Kippah (Gra 8:6 makes similar implication from Rif). Certainly then, there’s no obligation to wear a Kippah to sleep as the Leket Yosher pg 46 writes. However, Eliyah Rabba in name of the Shlah says that one should wear it to sleep as a Midat Chasidut. Mishna Brurah 2:11, Kaf HaChaim 2:18, and Halacha Brurah 2:12 bring this opinion as halacha. </ref>

# One’s hand isn’t considered a Kippah in order to make [[Brachot]], however someone else’s hand or one’s sleeve is sufficient. <Ref> S”A 91:4 (based on Sh”t Trumat HaDeshen 10 against the Sh”t Maharshal 72 who is more lenient) rules that one’s own hand isn’t acceptable but one’s friend’s hand is acceptable. Eliyah Rabba 91:5, Taz 8:3, Machsit HaShekel 91:4, Artzot HaChaim 2:6, Mishna Brurah 2:11, Halacha Brurah 2:16 conclude that one can rely on the Maharshal to walk four [[amot]] but not to make [[Brachot]]. Bach 91 says one’s sleeve is acceptable and so is the Minhag. Mishna Brurah 2:12 and Halacha Brurah 2:16 bring this as halacha.  </ref>

==Wearing a Kippah in a place not-suitable for a religious Jew==

# If one is in a place that’s not suitable for a religious Jew to be such as a party with mixed dancing (or perhaps even a museum or theater) one should not remove one’s Kippah so as not to make a Chilul Hashem. <Ref> Sh”t Igrot Moshe O”C 2:95e writes that if one goes to a museum or theater which is forbidden, one shouldn’t take off one’s Kippah as we don’t say since you’re doing one sin you can do another also. [Perhaps Rav Moshe considers entering a museum or theater inappropriate, perhaps because of possible inappropriate or profane material that’s on display.] A more substantial claim is that if one’s Yetzer Hara is overpowering and one is going to go to the museum anyway, in order to minimize Chilul Hashem one should take off one’s Kippah if one does it Leshem Shamayim, to which Rav Moshe writes, if this is a case of a person giving into their Yetzer there is little chance he’s going to take off his Kippah Leshem Shamayim and so it’s forbidden. Sh”t Igrot Moshe Y”D 2:33 writes that teens going to a place where there is mixed dancing and Perisut which is totally forbidden, should not remove their Kippah. He says that the claim that if they wear their Kippah people will think that a religious Jew is allowed to be involved in mixed dancing is incorrect, rather, we don’t tell someone who’s already doing a sin to do another one. Following the incorrect logic, Rav Moshe writes, we should also tell him not to follow any mitzvah so it’s clear he’s a Rasha so that people don’t think that a religious Jew can go mixed dancing. Since he’s doing a sin in public it’s also a source for Chilul Hashem but would only increase Chilul Hashem for him to do another sin of not wearing a Kippah. Nonetheless, the religious community should make it clear that it’s forbidden so that people don’t learn from such teens who are sinning. </ref>