- published: 01 Sep 2011
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A kippah or kipa ( /kɪˈpɑː/ ki-PAH; Hebrew: כִּפָּה or כִּיפָּה; plural: kippot כִּפוֹת or כִּיפּוֹת), also known as a yarmulke (i/ˈjɑrməlkə/ YAR-məl-kə or /ˈjɑːməkə/ YAH-mə-kə from Yiddish: יאַרמולקע), kapele (Yiddish: קאפעלע), is a hemispherical or platter-shaped cap, usually made of cloth, often worn by Orthodox Jewish men to fulfill the customary requirement held by some orthodox halachic authorities that their head be covered at all times, and usually worn by both men and, less frequently, women in Conservative and Reform communities at times of prayer.
There is considerable debate among the Halachic authorities as to whether or not wearing a Kippa is required by law.
Jewish law dictates that a man is required to cover his head during prayer. Originally, wearing a head covering outside of the synagogue for Orthodox males was a custom.
Today, according to some halacha authorities it has since taken on "the force of law" because it is an act of Kiddush Hashem. The 17th-century authority David HaLevi Segal suggested that the reason was to distinguish Jews from their non-Jewish counterparts, especially while at prayer.