REHOVOT, Israel — An Israeli barber has fashioned what he calls “magic” yarmulkes out of hair, designed to allow religious Jews to cover their heads without attracting unwanted attention from anti-Semites.
Shalom Koresh said his skullcap, known as a yarmulke in Yiddish and a kippa in Hebrew, was inspired by rising anti-Semitism in Europe and elsewhere. He said he has seen particular interest from buyers in France and Belgium.
“This skullcap is washable, you can brush it, you can dye it,” Koresh said in his salon in central Israel. “It was created so people could feel comfortable going to places where they are afraid to go, or places where they can’t wear it, and feel secure.”
France has seen a spike in anti-Semitic attacks in recent years. The killing of four French Jews in a hostage standoff at a Paris kosher market earlier this month has deepened fears among European Jews.
Officials in Israel are expecting — and encouraging — a new influx of Jewish immigrants following the Paris standoff. Since the attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has encouraged European Jews to move to the Jewish state.
Many Jews in Europe, especially France, say they feel unsafe walking around wearing the symbols of their faith. A 2013 European Union report found that one in five European Jews avoid wearing kippas or other Jewish symbols for fear of being harassed or attacked. The skullcap could also serve Jews traveling to the Middle East, where they encounter hostility in many Arab countries.
Koresh’s hairy skullcap, which he has dubbed the “Magic Kippa,” comes in an array of shades and colors. He sells them online, starting at 49 euros ($56) for synthetic hair and 79 euros ($91) for ones made of natural hair. The skullcap can be fastened onto the wearer’s real hair with hidden clips.
“You don’t feel a thing. It feels like it is part of your hair. There isn’t such a difference between this and a regular kippa. It feels the same,” said Maor Hania, who modeled a dark brown skullcap at Koresh’s salon.
Devout Jewish men traditionally wear skullcaps as a sign of respect and reverence for God. Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, who teaches at a prominent Jerusalem yeshiva, said that Jewish skullcaps must be visible and not hidden, but added that under certain unforeseeable circumstances, such as a risk of attacks, the “Magic Kippa” may be valid.
“Our sages said that, for example, when we are in danger, then it’s possible (to hide it),” he said, adding that the wearer should consult his own rabbi for guidance.
The hairy kippa received mixed reactions among skullcap-wearing men in Jerusalem. Some said they felt ill at ease with the idea of hiding their identity abroad, but others welcomed the protection.
“It’s very dangerous in France right now and it’s dangerous for a person to walk outside with a kippa,” said Richard Altabe, who wore a regular black kippa atop his silver hair. “So if this is how they can maintain their religious commitment, why not?”
I do not believe in hiding the kippah. I wear it every day, though I have been assaulted and harassed over it. If things are any more dangerous where you are, perhaps the question isn’t “should I hide who I am?”, but rather “where can I go to be myself openly?”. If you find yourself asking these questions, Israel is the answer. The kippah is also a symbol that represents an attempt at placing a barrier between the eyes of G-d and our thoughts, as if to say, “my thoughts are unworthy to be seen by You so please overlook… Read more »
this is right everyone LOOK AT 14
its better than wearing nothing for sure everyone has their own opinion so their is no point posting urs
simple wear a toupe
The Torah says “V’chai B’hem” Our Rabbis interpret that to mean that you should observe the Torah in a manner that does not put your life in danger. Hashem determines “the whole point”
Covering your hear is not a symbol that your married. The purpose of covering hair is that a married woman’s hair is deemed by Halacha to be for your husbands eyes only. The fact that a Sheitel is probably the most creative way to accomplish that doesn’t mean your “hiding” the Mitzvah.
However a Yamulka is a symbol that should be seen, unless a Ruv gives you a heter for safety purposes
The whole point abt yiddishkiet is that its is revealed not hidden………….
I mean when was last time one of you spent more than 5 dollars on a kipa?
Theirs cost 50!
Do your research!
chabad specifically tries not to make the kipa shown from under the hat…
It’s the same thing in the sense that you’re hiding the mitzvah. Covering your hair should symbolize that you are married but no one can even tell when you’re wearing a sheitel anymore! Let’s not even get into the fact that its 100% against halacha to wear your long voluptuous hair down whether single or married. Don’t try to tell me that they are making themselves beautiful for their husbands, when MOST woman have to chop off their real hair just so it can fit comfortably in their sheitels. So the whole world gets to see them with beautiful long… Read more »
A Shaitel’s purpose is to cover up your hair. The fact that it does a good job by using hair is wonderful. A yarmulka is a symbol on top of your hair so if the symbol is invisible the question is if its an acceptable symbol when only you know of its existence.
Making the Yarmulke visible under the hat: There is a tradition recorded in the name of Rav M.M. Rimnov to be particular to extend the Yarmulke below the hat in a way it is VISIBLE on the outside in order to distinguish ourselves from the gentiles. [Piskeiy Teshuvos 2 footnote 64]
It goes without saying that one must never go out of one’s way to hide one’s Yarmulkoh or explicitly intend to hide its visibility in any way.
This is NO different than wearing a sheitel!!!
what is this?
embarrassed of being jewish? the jewish men in Russia risked their lives for being proud of being jewish! and they weren’t being protected by the government even slightly! DONT BE EMBARRASED OF WHO YOU ARE! THE GOAL OF THE GOYIM IS TO MAKE US HIDE OUR IDENTITY! DONT FALL TO IT!!
This thing does not look like a person’s hair from most angles and probably wouldn’t fool anyone close enough to attack someone. No matter how a Jew is dressed he can usually be identified. Numerous times non-jews who
‘looked jewish’ have benn subjected to insults, abuse and attact. If a person feels he needs to wear an alternative headcovering he should consult his own rav and not poskin for others or himself from history or from personal feelings.
very well ssaid!!!!
lol
A new way for those self hating Jews to cover up their Jewishness with a hechsher. This and the kasket what is next? A beard that can be taken on and off, and change the color, length, shape to fit the rest of the look
The muslim are not afraid to go around and dress the way they want, why should we
Wear your Yamulka with pride and not be afraid,
What will be next? hide ones tziziz it will never end. !!!!!!!
Source please?
Its not a kippa, its a hair extension
that thing is so small, what if I prefer to wear a proper sized yarmulka? and yes, one can wear a cap if they are afraid of the kippa making them more vulnerable.
Sin of the golden calf.
this is how it started
Yes well once you are assaulted and harmed like your brethren in France, we’ll hear your big talk.Some very atrocious crimes took place against Jews so you want them to be sitting ducks??Use some “sechel” before you start preaching to others.
Wear a ikipa u feel be safe
its a different situation
A Shaitel is clearly to cover your hair for others. With a yarmie – its a “symbol” for yourself and others. Whats the point of an invisible symbol? Not so sure your “knowledge” of its existence suffices when its very theme is to “show” that something is above and beyond yourself.
The Rebbe advised some in France to wear a toupe when they went to the place of work.
I LIVE IN EUROPE , AND I THINK THAT TO WEAR THIS IS NOT THE DEFINITION OF CHOSSID, I ALWAYS WEAR MY YARMULKA AND IN CASE OF A DANGEROUS PLACE YOU CAN WEAR A CAP , BUT THIS IS TOO MUCH…
Good for people who aren’t comfortable (yet) wearing kippahs to wrk etc.
this great to see this comment spot actually has a interesting conversation going on and i must admit,it it very much amusing to read it.
the comment committee keep it up
yours truly
-abrou
Travel to France and then talk!
With this thing/kippa we let anti-Semitism win & control us. I’m not judging I don’t live in Europe but I was in Europe & no one will ever stop me from wearing a bright colored kippa. I think a better idea would be to carry a weapon in Europe & in Israel I think its stupid not to this is self defense we r talking about wake up
People respect people who respect what they believe in, openly.
That’s a fact.
אני רואה את הכיפה אבל איפה הראש
The point of a yarmulka is for YOU to be reminded of the One Above, not someone else. Most people don’t spend their days looking at their own heads in the mirror, so the visualization is irrelevant. In that sense, it is no different from a sheitel that appears to be exactly identical to the hair it rests on top of.
Didn’t the Rebbe wear a toupee in France? Similar idea, even less detectable.
Its genius ! We live in a world where there is unimaginable hate against jews, and if this is what it takes to keep this commitment, then so be it. And for the idiot who called this “stupid”, calling you an ignorant moron would be a compliment. You obviously have no idea what european and middle eastern jews suffer with. Your preception to calling this stupid is exercized while you are living in the last bastion on earth where you can still feel safe. I hope you never have to contiplate what type of yarlmuka you have to wear.
How many of the chassidim in communist Russia had beards? All the chassidishe yidden of now shaved while in Russia. ( Not the very old ones) Why is it different then a cap. Don’t be holy on someone elses cheshbon.
Are they available?
I remember wearing a wig on purim but still felt the need to cover it with a yarmulka. Did I have to? Who knows. It’s just so sad that this is even necessary:-(
So what now? We’re all gonna look like goyim??
Isn’t the point to be “reminded” of the one above? How is that accomplished if its not visual?
Why any different than wearing a very natural looking shaitel?
What happens if one is bald? 🙂
YES! I’M JEWISH!!! we have to be proud that we are jewish,only then will the world respect us.
I would be curious to hear what a rov would say if it’s considered a kosher headcovering for a frum person.
It feels wrong somehow.
BH
If we conceal our Judaism then we will lose… The way to triumph is to show how we are jews; and make that distinction clearer and clearer with every breath we will get out of gulus into geula now!
Were can we buy this kippa?
I heard it’s about 50 dollars kippa
put on a cap or don’t wear anything if it is so dangerous