

The literal meaning of the kippa in Hebrew is a dome, and this is an accurate depiction of the way the covering appears on the head. The debate continues about whether the wearing of the yamaka is custom or law. Rabbi Hunah ben Joshua is said to have never walked more than 6.6 feet without his kippa because, according to him, the Divine Presence was always on his head. In this way, the head covering is a way to honor and fear God. The text of the Talmud requires Jewish men to cover their heads so that the fear of heaven could rest on them. For young boys in the Orthodox community, they must start wearing the kippot early on so that the habit forms by the time they mature. The Jewish law does stipulate that men must always wear kippot when praying, and this is according to the Rambam. In many synagogues and at various ceremonies, it is customary to have extra kippot available for guests to use.

These times include prayer times at home or the synagogue, during rituals, and when attending the services at the temple. Men from the Orthodox Jewish culture must wear the yamaka at all times, while those from non-Orthodox circles wear the covering at specific times. The observation of the requirement for a head covering is interpreted and observed differently by variations divisions of the Jewish community. You may be wondering where all Jewish males have to wear the kippah at all times. An apt description for the yamaka is that it is a brimless cap made of cloth that is traditionally worn by Jewish men and boys in fulfillment of the requirement for the head to be covered. In the Yiddish language, this is a yarmulke, from which the variant yamaka originates. The real name for the head covering worn by Jewish men and boys is the kippah or kippa in Hebrew.
