Some Jews visiting our synagogue will object to wearing a head-covering. Some Jews wear them all the time. Do Jews really need head-gear?—The Mad Hatter

A good general principle is: “When in synagogue, respect the community’s practice,” but despite this wisdom, wearing a head-covering seems to be a special issue.

One of the most famous answers about wearing a yarmulke (kipa) comes from a responsum of Rabbi Solomon Luria, known as the Maharshal, who, during the 16^th century, served as rabbi in Brisk and other Lithuanian communities. In his collection of Responsa (72), he answers a question about whether a Jew is permitted to eat with his head uncovered. He writes: “I do not know any prohibition against reciting a berachah (blessing) with uncovered head” and criticizes other authorities who assume it is forbidden to say the Shem (name of God) with an uncovered head. The Maharshal notes that in earlier sources there are different opinions on what the proper practice was, but then acknowledges that for Jews wearing a head-cover at all times had become well-established custom. Remarkably, he comments: “If it were not for the fact that I am not in the habit of disagreeing with the early ones [i.e., earlier authorities on Jewish practice] unless I have a great one on my side, I would tend to be lenient and allow blessing with uncovered head and even to read the Sh'ma.”

Then he asks: “But I do wonder why they prohibited [uncovered heads] even without prayer. I do not know where they get this from. We do not find any prohibition for the uncovering of the head, except in the case of a woman…” and cites texts demonstrating that historically most Jews did not cover their heads unless they were reciting a blessing over bread or praying.

 He adds that the Jews of his time who wear head-covering at all times do so “not out of piety but because they consider it Dat Yehudit”. That is, they believed it is part of Jewish religion. He suggests that Jews in his era are attempting to display their devotion to Judaism by emulating the extreme practices of Chasidei Ashkenaz, the 11^th and 12^th century-pietistic Jews of Ashkenaz (Germany) who had lived centuries earlier (and are precursors of the modern Chasidic Jews).

He concludes, however, that he cannot support tolerance of uncovered heads because “the people have already become accustomed to forbidding this.” In an uncanny comment on the Jews of his time, he concludes: “And now I will reveal the shame of the Ashkenazim. Certainly one who drinks forbidden wine in a gentile inn, eats cooked fish from their dishes, and – even those who are more stringent – will trust the hotelkeeper that they did not cook [non-kosher foods] in their pots – they [are] not criticized and investigated. [Instead,] they are honored if they are rich and powerful.” Evidently the Maharshal’s world, too, was populated with Jews who loosely fulfilled the obligations of Jewish life while obsessing about appearances.

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