Q&A: Kippah
Kippah
Question
Hello Rabbi,
1. Is there an obligation to wear a kippah during the day?
2. And is it permitted to give a lesson in the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) to students who are not wearing a kippah?
Answer
- This is a custom that nowadays is binding as a custom.
- If the alternative is that they will not study, then it is preferable to teach them.
Discussion on Answer
Who said it became Jewish law? Jewish law says that a custom is binding. One can argue that once people began praying and studying with a kippah, that became the respectful way to appear, and there is a requirement of respectful appearance in study and prayer.
Since when does one also need respectful appearance for study? (For prayer I understand, because there is a verse: "Prepare to meet your God.")
And does that mean it is forbidden to study in clothing in which one may not pray?
Maybe it is not correct to speak of respectful appearance, but rather the appearance that is accepted for study and prayer. But that is not an obligation in itself of respectful appearance, only a custom.
Thank you very much.
What is the reason that this particular custom became binding?
And how does something become a custom that everyone has to accept?
Thanks in advance