Israeli's 'Magic' Yarmulke Made To Protect Jews From Attacks

[Schwadevivre]

Via The Friendly Atheist and Yahoo News
Original story by Audrey Horowitz of AP

REHOVOT, Israel (AP) — 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.
/snip
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 dollars) for synthetic hair and 79 euros (91 dollars) for ones made of natural hair. The skullcap can be fastened onto the wearer's real hair with hidden clips.

Obviously there is a lot of perceived danger in being a Jew in certain environments

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.

Interestingly Terry Firma at Friendly atheist adds this note from Antonio Hernández‘ An Around-the-World History of the Skullcap and its Modern Socio-Political Significance

Western fashion and Catholic Church historians tell us that the Greek pilos (“topper” or “head-pile”) of black felt is the mother of all skullcaps. This Greek skullcap and its name come down to us directly from the older Proto Indo-European word p’lo (pronounced PEE-loh), which means “hair”.

 

[GNC]

Don't certain strictly religious Jewish women shave their heads and wear a wig? Sort of the same thing, I would have thought.

 

[Ermintruder]

Couldn't a 'magic kippa' yarmulke not be, then, woven from the wearer's own hair, whilst still attached to the scalp from which it grows? Like a singular holy dreadlock....

And come on, this needs a bit more pomp and circumstance....have you just evinced the etymology of the humble pillow???

and its name come down to us directly from the older Proto Indo-European word p’lo (pronounced PEE-loh), which means “hair”.

Feathers, hair, leaves, no matter, they could be stuffed in a p'lo. And so another of life's great soft furnishings mysteries is fractionally solved....or is it???

 

[uair01]

This is a cool documentary about the tefillin.



One of the most sacred objects in Judaism is made of skin from a bull's neck. It’s called tefillin, and each black box contains scrolls that must be written by hand. Now demand for these prayer objects has soared since the latest war in Israel and Gaza that erupted on October 7th. Mostly from less religious Jews, including Israeli soldiers headed into battle. So, what does it say inside these little boxes? And why are so many people trying to get their hands on them?