OK, so recently I have not been diligent about wearing a kippa (=skullcap, head covering). Started several years ago when I realized that in the "State of Tel Aviv" I was treated very differently (read better) when I came to meetings, parties, etc. sans kippa. I was one of the "them," not one of "them." So I started to show up to meetings without a kippa. And I heard things that I never, as a kippa wearing man, would have heard. And was treated quite differently -- I was much more accepted. I was not looked at some fundamental freak living in Jerusalem (where I lived then). Everything was "easier."
Of course on shabbat at synagogue I still donned a kippa, and force/persuade my sons to wear a kippa. During the week, they in general do not wear kippot. And for years we have given up trying to get our daughters to wear some kind of head covering recognizing the absolute awe of the power that we call God. Our daughters just didn't want to be so different. And we had/have mercy on them.
But then came Tu B'shvat, the new year of the trees (according to the Jewish calendar), when I traditionally don the kippa I received from Rhea Rubin, on of the greatest modern kippa creators (her clients include Bill Clinton). The kippa has an off-white background and a tree woven into it, really remarkable. So I put it on for Tu B'shvat, and then I flew to Munich for the DLD show.
Nu, hevre, friends, in Germany I feel a responsibility to "davka" (means..."davka....") wear a kippa. How I could do otherwise? All Jews should wear a kippa in Germany, heck all people should. Gevalt, we are only 65 vears after...less than one generation. So I wear a kippa.
And at DLD (http://www.dld-conference.com/) I am a mini-celebrity, amongst the dozens of Israelis (thanks to the mythic Yossi Vardi) I am one of two people wearing a kippa. And I am the only one wearing a tree! So I get stopped by super-models to pose with my kippa, get asked questions about my "little hat," and overall feel very proud. Here I am in 2011 in Munich wearing a kippa. Not bad for a Jewish kid from Long Island.
Comments