Expert: Noam Eshed - 7/8/2003

Question
Hi there.

I am just currious to find out about the history regarding the little headpiece Jewish people wear? It seems to me that it changes from different countries as I own a blue and golden one myself.

When and why did the custom to wear this piece start...

Many thanks, Andreas

Answer
Dear Andreas ,

I  would not call myself an expert on that but basically the “Kippa”  shows to which
Stream of Judaism you belong. The original use of the Kippa is to remind us at all times that we have someone over our head and we have to be modest in his presence.   
The orthodox Jews are always wearing a simple black Kippa . ( they might have a fancy hat over it but the Kippa will still be modest as we are equal under the eyes of god. Then come the “ Kippa Sruga “ which is a sign for the Zionistic Jews , they are not extremists as the orthodox ones and you can see also the kippa as a fashionable
Artifact , most of them are needle sawed usually in two or more colors. When you are belong to some kind of a club or movement there will be standard colors with a symbol on the kippa something like a society tag. Most of the other kippas you might find are either designed for a special event e.g weddings in which case they will be white with a golden or a blue string and so on. I once even received a  blushing red
Peace which actually looked like a cardinal head peace.

Hope this help you any

Regards
Noam